Yemen president orders direction of US$2 billion for power, job creation

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Monday ordered the government to allocate US$1 billion to accelerate generating electricity power in order to meet the growin power demand, and assign another US$1 billion to create job opportunities.

In his speech at the opening session of the 4th General Conference of the Cooperative Agricultural Union, Saleh also directed the government to import wheat instead of traders and sell it in the local markets.

According to SABA, Saleh pointed out to participants in the conference, being held on August 13-15, that timing of the conference coincides with a critical situation of wheat shortage. "We are looking forward to come out from the conference with positive and fruitful outcomes to avoid deficit aspects which occurred during the past period," the Yemeni leader said. He also urged the Cooperative Agricultural Union and Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation to provide fertile seeds, besides farming guidance, for farmers to help them focus on agriculture the country is rich with.