Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr. Afrah Al-Zouba, held a virtual meeting today with the German Ambassador to Yemen, Thomas Friedrich Schneider, to discuss strengthening bilateral development cooperation across a number of priority sectors.

The meeting focused on key areas of cooperation, including water and sanitation, technical and vocational education and training, health, fisheries, peacebuilding, and community stabilization. The two sides also explored opportunities to increase private sector participation in Yemen’s economic recovery following the government’s adoption of its Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy.

Dr. Al-Zouba outlined the priorities of the government’s programme, which is based on the Economic Rescue Plan, Presidential Leadership Council Decision No. (11), and the reform agenda agreed with international and regional partners. She explained that the programme focuses on strengthening political and security stability, accelerating economic recovery, improving essential public services in health, education, electricity, and infrastructure, and enhancing governance, transparency, and anti-corruption measures.

The Minister emphasized the importance of safeguarding the development gains and institutional investments built over decades of cooperation between Yemen and Germany. She also stressed the need for close coordination between German development institutions and relevant Yemeni ministries to ensure the sustainability of development programmes and maximize their impact.

Dr. Al-Zouba highlighted promising investment opportunities in industrial zones, specialized healthcare services, agriculture, and the fisheries sector. She also outlined the Ministry’s ongoing institutional reform programme, including a comprehensive institutional assessment designed to develop a reform roadmap that will strengthen the Ministry’s capacity to coordinate international assistance and improve the absorption of development support.

The Minister further emphasized the importance of maintaining an appropriate balance between supporting local authorities and coordinating with central government institutions to prevent institutional fragmentation and ensure coherent implementation of development programmes.

For his part, Ambassador Schneider commended the strategic vision presented by Dr. Al-Zouba and reaffirmed that the German-Yemeni partnership, which spans more than half a century, provides a strong foundation for expanding future cooperation. He confirmed that the German Development Bank (KfW) will continue supporting development projects in Yemen, while the Berghof Foundation will remain actively engaged in peacebuilding and stabilization programmes.

The Ambassador also highlighted the longstanding economic ties between Yemen and Germany through the German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce and stressed the importance of creating a stable environment that can attract greater investment.