Eight Gulf investment projects were registered during the first quarter of 2009 in Yemen. A report issued by the General Investment (GIA) showed that the projects worth about YR 7.7 billion were distributed between four Saudi projects and three Kuwaiti projects and one project for United Arab Emirates. Two of these Saudi projects were in the industrial sector and two are service industry sector. The Kuwaiti investment projects included an industrial sector project, a project in the tourism industry and another one in the field of agriculture. The UAE project was in the field of tourism. In a related issue, the government approved, in its cabinet's meeting held on Tuesday, a number of investment projects in field of infrastructure. These projects were presented by the chairman of General Investment Authority and Shibam Holding Corporation. Chaired by Prime Minister Ali Mujawar, the meeting directed concerned bodies to include their future needs required for carrying out infrastructure projects included in the package of the projects. Water, roads, electricity and telecommunications projects were given priority. The cabinet authorized the chairman of GIA to coordinate with concerned ministers and bodies to prepare mechanism for organizing measures and duties to provide services in locations assigned for investments and develop a timetable required for this regard. Meanwhile, the first round of the Yemeni-Bahraini official talks started on Monday at the building of the Yemeni foreign ministry in Sana'a capital. The talks focused on means of enhancing bilateral relations between Yemen and the Kingdom of Bahrain in different fields especially in economy, investment and politics as well as cooperation between Yemen and countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The two sides affirmed importance of boosting the relationship between the two countries, saying that the round as fruitful result of the summit held between President Ali Abdullah Saleh and King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa in the beginning of this year in Manama capital of Bahrain. Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi, foreign minister considered the round as a key event in the history of the Yemeni-Bahrain ties, affirming concern of Yemen to develop its ties with the latter. Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa highlighted level of the Yemeni-Bahrani relations, pointing out to the recent visit of president Saleh to Manama. He confirmed support of his country for joining Yemen to the GCC based on a roadmap of rehabilitating the Yemeni economy.
