Sana'a: A joint meeting was held on Sunday at the General Investment Authority, bringing together the Acting Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, Ammar al-Karim; the Chairman of the General Investment Authority, Mohammed Ishaq; and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor for the Services and Social Welfare Sector, Mohammed Aqabat. The meeting focused on discussing ways to stimulate investment in the agricultural sector, both plant and animal, and mechanisms to strengthen the community economy in a way that contributes to reducing the import bill and achieving food security.
According to Yemen News Agency, the attendees reviewed the current state of agricultural investment and livestock production, highlighting the most prominent challenges and obstacles facing existing projects, in addition to the policies and solutions necessary to expand the base of investment projects and create an attractive environment for capital in this vital sector.
At the meeting, al-Karim emphasized the importance of integrating government efforts to support the agricultural sector as a cornerstone of food security and economic development. He noted that the current phase requires directing investments towards agricultural and livestock production projects to achieve self-sufficiency and create sustainable job opportunities, particularly in rural areas. He stated that the Ministry is working on a comprehensive vision for developing agricultural value chains and streamlining procedures for investors in cooperation with the private sector to serve sustainable development.
For his part, the Chairman of the Investment Authority reiterated the commitment to providing all incentives and advantages to investors in the agricultural sector and overcoming the obstacles facing their projects. He explained that the Authority is working in partnership with various entities to create an encouraging environment that enhances the volume of investments in this promising sector, based on the comparative advantages of each governorate.
Meanwhile, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs pointed to the importance of linking agricultural projects to community development and improving the standard of living for rural families. He stressed the need to focus on training and rehabilitation programs and building the capacities of young people in agricultural fields to create real economic opportunities and achieve local development.