The studies & Economic Media Center ( SEMC) lauded the launch of the economic and social development plan for Taiz governorate 2024-2026, during the consultative workshop held on 18 and 19 November 2023 in the Egyptian capital Cairo, as an extension of what was announced in June 2023 in Taiz in the presence of representatives of more than (30) UN and international organizations, representatives of the local authority, the private sector and civil society organizations.
SEMC also welcomed the announcement by Taiz governor, Nabil Shamsan, to activate the local economic council and to begin implementing the ambitious plan of Taiz, which embraces a shift from emergency relief to sustainable development. And to focus on vital projects in the governorate, such as the port and airport of Mokha, wind and solar power plants, and revived agricultural co-operative societies in Taiz districts.
The Center appreciated the openness of the local authority in Taiz, represented by the Governor, Nabil Shamsan, and the Office of Planning and International Cooperation in the governorate, represented by Nabil Jamal and his team for all the proposals put forward. The Center also lauded their keenness to facilitate actions and to invite specialized businessmen and civil society organizations specializing in economic, development and effective and influential community work.
The Center stated in a statement that creating a development model in Taiz through developing the Governorate Development Plan with the support of the United Nations, donor countries, and the participation of the private sector, civil society organizations, and local authorities constitutes an urgent need and a basis to be built upon during the next phase. Particularly in the light of pledges made by INGOs and the private sector to support the success of the Plan’s Four tracks. The plan, with its contents for a shift from relief to development actions, is a requirement that the SEMC has long advocated in light of its vision for economic recovery and reconstruction.
The statement stressed the importance of continuing these efforts in the coming period by developing a clear work mechanism and a long-term plan to implement the plan with the active participation of the private sector and civil society organizations. This will help to achieve a development paradigm shift in all sectors of the governorate.
The statement also praised the role of the private sector, which was reflected in the remarkable attendance of businessmen and trade houses at this workshop. They took the initiative to announce large sums of money to finance small projects, including the announcement by the Al-Kuraimi Islamic Microfinance Bank to double its portfolio of small-business financing from 5 billion to 10 billion Yemeni Riyals, and the announcement by the Tadhamon Bank to allocate 3 billion Yemeni Riyals for financing small and medium-sized enterprises in Taiz, in a way that contributes to promoting economic development and increases social cohesion in the governorate, which has suffered difficult circumstances over the past eight years.
The statement added that such a step, from the private sector and its leaders, is pushing forward, encouraging further investment and entrepreneurship to revive the role of the private sector in Taiz, which has played important roles over the past decades and has made bright contributions in all areas.
It also welcomed the plan’s clear path to strengthening the partnership between local authorities and the private sector, stressing the need to turn this partnership into a practical path that includes participation in policymaking and plans and the launch of joint projects. It also praised the proposal to establish a public joint company with contributions from the local community, Yemeni expatriates, and the private sector to implement strategic projects in Taiz.
The Center also emphasized the continuation of its role as a think tank in continuing to provide all knowledge needed and engage in activities to support implementing the Plan as an important opportunity to bring about a development shift in the governorate. Especially since the Center has worked over the past period to provide many insights and policies on the most significant economic challenges in partnership with the INGOs working in Yemen.
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