

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/09
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/18
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Hillah
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AMGT
ASEC
AEMR
AR
APECO
AU
AORC
ADANA
AJ
AF
AFIN
AMED
AS
AM
ABLD
AFFAIRS
AMB
APER
ACOA
AND
AA
AE
AADP
AID
AO
AL
AG
AORD
ADM
AINF
AINT
ASEAN
AORG
ABT
APEC
AY
ASUP
ARF
AGOA
AVIAN
ATRN
ANET
AGIT
ASECVE
ABUD
AODE
ALOW
ADB
AN
ADPM
ASPA
ARABL
AFSN
AZ
AC
AIAG
AFSI
ASCE
ASIG
ACABQ
ADIP
AFGHANISTAN
AROC
ADCO
ACOTA
ANARCHISTS
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARABBL
ASCH
ANTITERRORISM
AGRICULTURE
AOCR
ARR
ASSEMBLY
AORCYM
AFPK
ACKM
AGMT
AEC
APRC
AIN
AFPREL
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AINR
AOPC
AFAF
AFARI
AX
ASECAF
ASECAFIN
AT
AFZAL
APCS
AGAO
AIT
ARCH
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AMEX
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
AOIC
ASEX
ASEK
AER
AGR
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AEMRS
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ACS
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
ACAO
BA
BR
BB
BG
BEXP
BY
BRUSSELS
BU
BD
BTIO
BK
BL
BE
BMGT
BO
BM
BX
BN
BWC
BBSR
BTT
BC
BH
BILAT
BUSH
BHUM
BT
BTC
BMENA
BOND
BAIO
BP
BF
BRPA
BURNS
BUT
BBG
BCW
BOEHNER
BOL
BASHAR
BIDEN
BFIN
BZ
BEXPC
BTIU
CPAS
CA
CASC
CS
CBW
CIDA
CO
CODEL
CI
CROS
CU
CH
CWC
CMGT
CVIS
CDG
CTR
CG
CF
CHIEF
CJAN
CBSA
CE
CY
CB
CW
CM
CHR
CD
COE
CV
COUNTER
CT
CN
CPUOS
CTERR
CVR
CVPR
CDC
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CONS
COM
CACS
CR
CONTROLS
CAN
CACM
COMMERCE
CAMBODIA
CFIS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITES
CONDOLEEZZA
CZ
CTBT
CEN
CLINTON
CFED
CARC
CTM
CARICOM
CSW
CICTE
CYPRUS
CBE
CMGMT
CARSON
CWCM
CIVS
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CENTCOM
CAPC
COPUOS
CKGR
CITEL
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CAFTA
CVISU
CDB
CEDAW
CNC
CJUS
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAJC
CONSULAR
CLMT
CBC
CIA
CNARC
CIS
CEUDA
CHINA
CAC
CL
DR
DJ
DEMOCRATIC
DEMARCHE
DOMESTIC
DISENGAGEMENT
DB
DA
DHS
DAO
DCM
DAVID
DO
DEAX
DEFENSE
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DOC
DTRA
DK
DAC
DOD
DRL
DRC
DCG
DE
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DS
DKEM
ECON
ETTC
EFIS
ETRD
EC
EMIN
EAGR
EAID
EFIN
EUN
ECIN
EG
EWWT
EINV
ENRG
ELAB
EPET
EIND
EN
EAIR
EUMEM
ECPS
ES
EI
ELTN
ET
EZ
EU
ER
EINT
ENGR
ECONOMIC
ENIV
EFTA
ETRN
EMS
EUREM
EPA
ESTH
EEB
EET
ENV
EAG
EXIM
ECTRD
ELNT
ENVIRONMENT
ECA
EAP
EINDIR
ETR
ECONOMY
ETRC
ELECTIONS
EICN
EXPORT
EARG
EGHG
EID
ETRO
EINF
EAIDHO
ECIP
EENV
EURM
EPEC
ERNG
ENERG
EIAD
EXBS
ED
EREL
ELAM
EK
EWT
ENGRD
EDEV
ECE
ENGY
EXIMOPIC
ETRDEC
ECCT
EUR
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EFI
ECOSOC
EXTERNAL
ESCAP
ETCC
EENG
ERA
ENRD
ECLAC
ETRAD
EBRD
ENVR
ECONENRG
ELTNSNAR
ELAP
EPIT
EDUC
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
EIVN
EDRC
EGOV
ETRA
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ESA
ETRDGK
ENVI
ELN
EPRT
EPTED
ERTD
EUM
EAIDS
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
EDA
EPREL
EINVEFIN
EAGER
ETMIN
EUCOM
ECCP
EIDN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EFIM
ETIO
EATO
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
ENRGIZ
EAIG
ENTG
EUC
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
FR
FI
FOREIGN
FARM
FIR
FAO
FK
FARC
FAS
FJ
FREEDOM
FAC
FINANCE
FBI
FTAA
FM
FCS
FAA
FORCE
FDA
FTA
FT
FCSC
FMGT
FINR
FIN
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FO
FMLN
FISO
GM
GERARD
GT
GA
GG
GR
GTIP
GH
GZ
GE
GB
GY
GAZA
GJ
GEORGE
GOI
GCC
GMUS
GI
GLOBAL
GV
GC
GL
GOV
GKGIC
GF
GWI
GIPNC
GUTIERREZ
GTMO
GANGS
GAERC
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
HR
HA
HYMPSK
HO
HK
HUMAN
HU
HN
HHS
HURI
HUD
HUMRIT
HUMANITARIAN
HUMANR
HL
HSTC
HILLARY
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HOURANI
HI
HUM
HEBRON
HUMOR
IZ
IN
IAEA
IS
IMO
ILO
IR
IC
IT
ITU
ID
IV
IMF
IBRD
IWC
ICAO
ICRC
INF
IO
IPR
ISO
IK
ISRAELI
IQ
ICES
IDB
INFLUENZA
IRAQI
ISCON
IGAD
IRAN
ITALY
IRAQ
ICTY
ICTR
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IQNV
IADB
INTERNAL
INMARSAT
IRDB
ILC
INCB
INRB
ICJ
ISRAEL
INR
IEA
ISPA
ICCAT
IOM
ITRD
IHO
IL
IFAD
ITRA
IDLI
ISCA
INL
INRA
INTELSAT
ISAF
ISPL
IRS
IEF
ITER
INDO
IIP
IND
IEFIN
IACI
IAHRC
INNP
IA
INTERPOL
IFIN
ISSUES
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
KMDR
KPAO
KOMC
KNNP
KFLO
KDEM
KSUM
KIPR
KFLU
KE
KCRM
KJUS
KAWC
KZ
KSCA
KDRG
KCOR
KGHG
KPAL
KTIP
KMCA
KCRS
KPKO
KOLY
KRVC
KVPR
KG
KWBG
KTER
KS
KN
KSPR
KWMN
KV
KTFN
KFRD
KU
KSTC
KSTH
KISL
KGIC
KSEP
KFIN
KTEX
KTIA
KUNR
KCMR
KCIP
KMOC
KTDB
KBIO
KBCT
KMPI
KSAF
KACT
KFEM
KPRV
KPWR
KIRC
KCFE
KRIM
KHIV
KHLS
KVIR
KNNNP
KCEM
KLIG
KIRF
KNUP
KSAC
KNUC
KPGOV
KTDD
KIDE
KOMS
KLFU
KNNC
KMFO
KSEO
KJRE
KJUST
KMRS
KSRE
KGIT
KPIR
KPOA
KUWAIT
KIVP
KICC
KSCS
KPOL
KSEAO
KRCM
KSCI
KNAP
KGLB
KICA
KCUL
KPRM
KFSC
KQ
KPOP
KPFO
KPALAOIS
KREC
KBWG
KR
KTTB
KNAR
KCOM
KESS
KINR
KOCI
KWN
KCSY
KREL
KTBT
KFTN
KW
KRFD
KFLOA
KHDP
KNEP
KIND
KHUM
KSKN
KOMO
KDRL
KTFIN
KSOC
KPO
KGIV
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KFPC
KNNB
KNDP
KICCPUR
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KDMR
KFCE
KIMMITT
KMCC
KMNP
KSEC
KOMCSG
KGCC
KRAD
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KTIAPARM
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KMIG
KLAB
KSEI
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KWWW
KGHA
KY
KCRIM
KCRCM
KGCN
KPLS
KIIP
KPAOY
KTRD
KTAO
KJU
KBTS
KWAC
KFIU
KNNO
KPAI
KILS
KPA
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KNPT
KERG
KLTN
KPREL
KTLA
KO
KAWK
KVRP
KAID
KX
KENV
KWCI
KNPR
KCFC
KNEI
KFTFN
KTFM
KCERS
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KBTR
KEDU
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KPDD
KPIN
KDEV
KFRP
KTBD
KMSG
KWWMN
KWBC
KA
KOM
KWNM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KWMM
MARR
MX
MASS
MOPS
MNUC
MCAP
MTCRE
MRCRE
MTRE
MASC
MY
MK
MG
MU
MILI
MO
MZ
MEPP
MCC
MEDIA
MOPPS
MI
MAS
MW
MP
MEPN
MV
MD
MR
MC
MCA
MT
MIL
MARITIME
MOPSGRPARM
MAAR
MOOPS
ML
MA
MN
MNUCPTEREZ
MTCR
MUNC
MPOS
MONUC
MGMT
MURRAY
MACP
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MGT
MNUR
MF
MEPI
MOHAMMAD
MAR
MAPP
MNU
MFA
MTS
MLS
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MNVC
MIK
MBM
MILITARY
MAPS
MARAD
MDC
MACEDONIA
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
NZ
NATO
NI
NO
NU
NG
NL
NPT
NS
NA
NP
NASA
NSF
NEA
NANCY
NSG
NRR
NATIONAL
NMNUC
NC
NSC
NAS
NARC
NELSON
NATEU
NDP
NIH
NK
NIPP
NR
NERG
NSSP
NE
NTDB
NT
NEGROPONTE
NGO
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NCCC
NH
NAFTA
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NSFO
NW
NORAD
NPG
NOAA
OPRC
OPDC
OTRA
OECD
OVIP
OREP
ODC
OIIP
OAS
OSCE
OPIC
OMS
OFDP
OFDA
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OSCI
OM
OPAD
ODPC
OIC
ODIP
OPPI
ORA
OCEA
OREG
OMIG
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXP
OPEC
OFPD
OAU
OCII
OIL
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OSHA
OPCD
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OTR
OBSP
OGAC
OESC
OVP
ON
OES
OTAR
OCS
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PHUM
PM
PREF
PTER
PK
PINS
PBIO
PHSA
PE
PBTS
PA
PL
POL
PAK
POV
POLITICS
POLICY
PO
PRELTBIOBA
PKO
PIN
PNAT
PU
PGOVPREL
PALESTINIAN
PTERPGOV
PELOSI
PAS
PP
PTEL
PROP
PRELAF
PRHUM
PRE
PUNE
PIRF
PVOV
PROG
PERSONS
PROV
PKK
PRGOV
PH
PLAB
PDEM
PCI
PRL
PRM
PINSO
PERM
PETR
PPAO
PERL
PBS
PETERS
PRELBR
PCON
POLITICAL
PMIL
POLM
PKPA
PNUM
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PARMP
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PAO
PROTECTION
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PATTY
PSOC
PARTIES
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PAIGH
PARK
PETER
PHUS
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PMAR
PWBG
PAR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PTE
PY
POLUN
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PGOVPM
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PHUMA
PHUMR
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PARMS
PINL
PSI
PKPAL
PPA
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PREO
PHAS
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PS
PGVO
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PINT
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PTBS
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PREK
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PEDRO
PF
PGPV
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
RS
RP
RU
RW
RFE
RCMP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RO
ROW
ROBERT
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RELATIONS
RAY
ROBERTG
RIGHTS
RM
RATIFICATION
RREL
RBI
RICE
ROOD
REL
RODHAM
RGY
RUEHZO
RELIGIOUS
RELFREE
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
REO
REGIONAL
RUPREL
RI
REMON
RPEL
RSO
SCUL
SENV
SOCI
SZ
SNAR
SO
SP
SU
SY
SI
SMIG
SYR
SA
SW
SF
SR
SYRIA
SNARM
START
SPECIALIST
SG
SNIG
SCI
SGWI
SE
SIPDIS
SANC
SELAB
SN
SETTLEMENTS
SCIENCE
SENVENV
SENS
SPCE
SPAS
SECURITY
SENC
SOCIETY
SOSI
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SEN
SPECI
ST
SL
SENVCASCEAIDID
SC
SECRETARY
STR
SNA
SOCIS
SADC
SEP
SK
SHUM
SYAI
SMIL
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SCUD
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SAARC
SENVSXE
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCRS
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SAN
SM
SFNV
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
TBIO
TW
TRGY
TSPA
TU
TPHY
TI
TX
TH
TIP
TSPL
TNGD
TZ
TS
TC
TK
TURKEY
TERRORISM
TPSL
TINT
TRSY
TERFIN
TPP
TT
TECHNOLOGY
TE
TAGS
TRAFFICKING
TJ
TN
TO
TD
TP
TREATY
TR
TA
TIO
TECH
TF
TRAD
TNDG
TWI
TPSA
TWL
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TL
TV
THPY
TSPAM
TREL
TRT
TNAR
TFIN
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
UK
UNESCO
UNSC
UNGA
UN
US
UZ
USEU
UG
UP
UNAUS
UNMIK
USTR
UY
USUN
UNEP
UNDC
UV
UNPUOS
UNSCR
USAID
UNODC
UNRCR
UNHCR
UNDP
UNCRIME
UA
UNHRC
UNRWA
UNO
UNCND
UNCHR
USAU
UNICEF
USPS
UNOMIG
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
UR
UNFICYP
UNCITRAL
UNAMA
UNVIE
USTDA
USNC
UNCSD
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
USSC
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNCLASSIFIED
USDA
UNCTAD
USGS
UNFPA
UNSE
USOAS
UE
UAE
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNC
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNHR
UNBRO
UNCHC
UNFCYP
UNIDROIT
WHTI
WIPO
WTRO
WHO
WTO
WMO
WFP
WEET
WS
WE
WA
WHA
WBG
WILLIAM
WI
WSIS
WCL
WEBZ
WZ
WW
WWBG
WMD
WWT
WMN
WWARD
WITH
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WB
WBEG
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 03SANAA1690, 2003 INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT - REPUBLIC OF
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #03SANAA1690.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
03SANAA1690 | 2003-07-13 07:05 | 2011-08-24 01:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Sanaa |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 SANAA 001690
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/IFD/OIA, NEA/ARP AND NEA/PPR
STATE PLEASE PASS TO EXIM, TDA AND OPIC FOR RO'SULLIVAN
TREASURY FOR DO/GCHRISTOPOLUS
USDOC FOR 4520/ITA/ATAYLOR AND ANESA/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU ALSO
FOR 6000/ITA/ADVOCACY CENTER/CJAMES
PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR FHUGEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV EFIN ELAB ETRD KTDB PGOV YM OPIC ECON COM
SUBJECT: 2003 INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT - REPUBLIC OF
YEMEN
REF: STATE 128494
¶1. THE FOLLOWING IS EMBASSY'S YEAR 2003 INVESTMENT CLIMATE
STATEMENT FOR YEMEN.
¶2. BEGIN TEXT OF INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT:
¶A. 1. Openness to Foreign Investment
The Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) is committed to
attracting foreign investors by improving its overall
investment climate. To this end, it adopted a new policy of
uniform treatment for all investors, domestic and foreign.
The lead ROYG agency is the General Investment Authority
(GIA), established in March 1992, which has worked with the
World Bank's Foreign Investment Advisory service to update
Yemen's Investment law 22 of 1991 (as amended). The
alternative Investment Law number 22 of 2002 was adopted by
parliament on June 2002 and signed by the president on July
20, 2002. However, to date the law has not been
implemented. Once implemented the new law will safeguard
all exemptions and benefits called for in the previous
investment law and shift the focus of the GIA from
regulation to registration and promotion. The new law will
eliminate intervention of the GIA and other government
agencies in investment projects and gives wider freedom to
investors in running their projects. The new law will cancel
some legal provisions, which provided special exceptions for
investors from obtaining import and export licenses from the
Ministry of Industry and Trade and also from paying relevant
stamp duties. The new law will encourage local production
by reducing customs duties by 50 percent on imported raw
materials and 100 percent on raw materials produced locally
for agricultural and fisheries projects. Finally, the new
law will cancel some tax categories. The new investment law
falls under the government's financial, economic and
administrative reform program, intended to encourage foreign
investment.
Under the new law 22 of 2002, the primary role of the GIA is
limited to registration and promotion of investment
opportunities. The GIA provides potential investors with an
information packet that includes a copy of the investment
law, an investment guide summarizing GIA activities, and an
application form with instructions. Packets may be obtained
from the promotion section, General Investment Authority,
P.O. Box 19022, Sanaa, Republic of Yemen (Phone: 967-1-262-
962/3 or 268-205; Fax: 967-1-262-964, E-mails:
mohdhussein@yahoo.com; website is: www.giay.org.
The GIA welcomes investment in all projects with the
exception of arms and explosive materials, industries that
could cause environmental disasters, banking and money
exchange activities, and wholesale and retail imports.
Investments in the exploration and production of oil, gas
and minerals are subject to special agreements (e.g.,
production sharing agreements) under the authority of the
ministry of oil and mineral resources and do not fall within
the purview of the GIA. Investment is open to Yemeni, Arab,
or foreign investors acting solely or in partnership on any
project.
The investment law revision is part of a large ROYG economic
restructuring program, sponsored by the IMF and World Bank,
begun in 1995. The broad objectives of the program have
been to stabilize the economy and stimulate sustainable
growth. By and large, it has been successful, and the ROYG
will negotiate with the IMF after the April 2003 election
for a new three-year poverty reduction and growth facility
(PRGF) for 2003-2005. Macroeconomic stabilization has been
achieved with the Yemeni rial stable and floating at market
rates at the range of (1 USD equaled approximately 174 YR
until October 2002; and 183 YR from October 2002-July 2003.
Inflation (as measured by the CPI) declined from 71 percent
in 1994 to 11. 8 percent in 2003, and foreign currency
reserves now reached USD 4.7 billion, or 17.6 months of
imports. Most bilateral debt has been rescheduled under the
Paris Club and commercial debt has largely been eliminated
through a World Bank grant program. External debt is now
about 48.7 percent of GDP as at March 2003.
Under the international financial institutions' reform
programs, Yemen's trade environment has also improved, and
basic elements of a social safety net have been implemented.
A simplified and less protective tariff structure has been
initiated with the elimination of nearly all import bans,
export restrictions, and import licensing, and the adoption
of a unified tariff. Under the new (investment) law 22 of
2002, duties applied on raw materials not available locally
will be exempted by 50 percent. There will also be a full
exemption on imported materials included in agricultural and
fisheries projects. Also as instructed by the president,
there should be a 100 percent exemption on lands in the
southern and eastern provinces if the project cost,
excluding land, is more than ten million dollars. A
privatization program, begun in 1998 with sixteen
enterprises in industry, tourism, and trade, came to a
standstill in April 2001 when parliament refused to approve
a World Bank credit to fund a larger, long-term
privatization program. Financial sector reform has advanced
with passage of a new law granting full independence to the
Central Bank. Commercial banks have also been required to
improve their accounting procedures and loan recovery rates.
That said, the bank system remains weak, with most
commercial banks owned by families who have very low
capitalization rates.
A.2. Conversion and Transfer Policies
The Yemeni rial is freely convertible at market rates. It
has been stable at the 176-177YR/1USD range through October
¶2002. The rial went down to 182-183YR/1USD through the end
of the year, due partially to the impact of the attack on
the oil tanker M/V Limburg off the coast of Yemen. All
other foreign currencies, especially U.S. dollars, are
readily available and trade freely at market rates. Under
Investment Law 22, investors may transfer funds in hard
currency from abroad to Yemen for the purpose of investment
and may re-export invested capital, whether in kind or in
cash, upon liquidation or project disposal. Net profits
resulting from investment of foreign funds may be
transferred freely outside of Yemen.
A.3. Expropriation and Compensation
Yemen's investment law stipulates that projects will not be
nationalized or seized. Moreover, the funds will not be
blocked, confiscated, frozen, withheld or sequestered by
other than a court of law. Likewise, real estate may not be
expropriated except in the national interest, according to
the law and a court judgment, and against fair compensation
based on its market price on the issuance date of the court
judgment. Such compensation may be freely transferred
abroad.
Since Yemen's unification in 1990, there have been no cases
of property expropriation. The ROYG recognizes that
expropriation (which existed in the socialist-led Peoples'
Democratic Republic of Yemen, the former South Yemen, until
1990) is contrary to its economic reform aspirations. Much
of the expropriated lands in the southern and eastern
provinces have been returned to the rightful owners. Land
registration, however, is in its infancy in Yemen, and
disputes over both residential and commercial plots are
frequent and nearly impossible to adjudicate legally.
A.4. Dispute Settlement
There have been no significant investment disputes involving
U.S. investors over the past several years, although
commercial disputes are common. Yemen signed the Convention
on the Settlement of Investment Disputes in 1997, but has
not yet ratified the New York Convention on Arbitration. In
the interim, business disputes are generally handled by
informal arbitration or within Yemen's court system. In
1998, a private arbitration center, the Yemeni Center for
Conciliation and Arbitration, was created by a group of
lawyers, bankers, and businessmen as an alternative to the
courts. The center has settled a number of cases so far in
the areas of trade, finance, construction and industry, and
is gaining recognition as a viable alternative.
The formal judicial system is widely regarded as inefficient
and corrupt. While Yemen's investment-related laws are
basically sound, enforcement remains problematic at best and
nonexistent at worst. The ROYG has special commercial
courts to provide a mechanism for commercial dispute
resolution, but they are generally considered ineffective.
In the fall of 2002, the GIA board of directors and the
council of ministers decided to establish specialized courts
for settlement of investment disputes with four appointed
judges. To date these special courts has not been
established. Bilateral and multilateral donors are actively
encouraging the ROYG to press forward with more extensive
judicial reforms.
Most investors would be best served by establishing a
partnership with a Yemeni who knows the system, and by
including International arbitration clauses in their
contracts. In cases involving interest, most judges use
Shari'a (Islamic) law as the guideline, under which claims
for interest payments due are almost always rejected. Local
commercial banks are sensitive to this problem, and rarely
lend to other than established, large trading houses for
this reason.
A.5. Performance Requirements/Incentives
Under Yemen's investment law, no performance requirements
are specified as a condition for establishing, maintaining
or expanding investment. Incentives include, but are not
limited to: exemption from customs fees and taxes levied on
fixed assets of the project; tax holiday on profits for a
period of seven years, renewable for up to 18 years maximum;
the right to purchase or rent land and buildings; and the
right to import production inputs and export products
without restrictions and registration in the import/export
register.
Boycott issues: Yemen formally renounced observance of the
secondary and tertiary aspects of the Arab League boycott of
Israel in 1995. However, occasional reports of violations
occur when some Yemeni companies use old purchase order
forms that contain prohibited language. When these
violations are brought to the attention of concerned
officials, corrective action is taken. Yemen has stated
that it will not renounce the primary aspect of the boycott
absent an Arab League consensus.
A.6. Right to Private Ownership
While foreigners may own property, foreign companies and
establishments generally may trade in Yemen only through a
Yemeni agent. Law 23 of 1997 (amended), Regulating Agencies
and Branches of Foreign Companies and Firms, outlines the
requirements for establishing a Yemeni agent. Chapter 3 of
law 23 permits foreign companies and firms to conduct
business in Yemen by establishing foreign-owned and managed
branches. Foreign establishments wishing to open branches
in their own names must obtain a permit by decree from the
Minister of Industry and Trade, subject to law 23 and other
laws in force at the time of application. However, as a
practical matter, establishments should plan to engage a
Yemeni partner. Regarding investment projects, under the
new investment law foreigners can own 100 percent of the
land and can execute projects without a Yemeni agent and
without obtaining import/export license from the Ministry of
Industry and Trade or implementing law 23 of 1997. (The
investment law has precedence over other laws.)
Mortgage lending in Yemen is rare because of the
aforementioned unwillingness of the court system to uphold
the payment of interest. In addition, Yemen has a long
history of incomplete or inaccurate land records and
frequent land ownership disputes, which make using land or
buildings as collateral difficult for lenders to manage.
While the general survey authority is working to establish a
just and legally defensible land registry system, it is some
years off.
A.7. Protection of Property Rights
Yemen has a record of inadequate protection of intellectual
property rights (IPR), including patents, trademarks,
designs, and copyrights. It has not acceded to any
international IPR conventions, and its IPR law no. 19 of
1994 is not TRIPS compliant. Yemen's Ministry of Industry
and Trade drafted three new projected laws known as the
patents law; trademark law, and the designs and copyrights
law. These three new laws are expected to be approved this
year by the cabinet, ratified by parliament and endorsed by
the president, which will replace the IPR law no. 19 of
¶1994. In March 1999, Yemen became a member of the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and is now
revising its laws with WIPO guidance. Yemen's application
to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) was approved in
July 2000. As a next step in the accession process, Yemen
presented to the WTO a memorandum of foreign trade regime in
October 2002. As part of its accession requirements, Yemen
will need to enact its revised IPR legislation and take
concrete steps to enforce adequately these laws.
A large U.S.-based multinational firm litigated successfully
a trademark infringement case in Yemen's courts in 1999.
The ruling is now under appeal and the violator continues to
infringe on the trademark despite the court ruling. A final
resolution was expected by the end of 2000, but it is still
pending in the Supreme Court. In a second case involving a
U.S. Company's trademark, the Appeal Court handed down a
final ruling in April 2001 to enforce the rights of the U.S.
Company. As of April 2003, the enforcement of the final
ruling to cease production of the infringed products has not
been implemented. Both of these cases demonstrate the
soundness of Yemen's basic IPR laws. However, enforcement
of rulings remains weak.
A.8. Transparency of the Regulatory System
While Yemen has fundamentally sound investment laws, labor
laws, customs tariff regulations and tax laws, transparency
of implementation and enforcement is elusive. The next
steps required in Yemen's civil service and administrative
reform process are to clarify procedures, create
implementing regulations and build a mechanism by which to
enforce these standards. Health and safety standards are
rudimentary and not enforced.
A.9. Efficient Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment
In the 1990s, Yemen's financial sector consisted of a
banking system that suffered from a large volume of non-
performing loans, inadequate loan provisioning, low bank
capitalization, and weak enforcement of prudential
standards. Under a 1997 World Bank-sponsored financial
sector reform program, the government took actions to
address these problems. A bank reform law was passed in
December 1998 to update, strengthen, and regulate the
industry. By June 2000, the Central Bank of Yemen (CBY) had
circulated strict regulations pertaining to credit risk
management, liquidity, insider lending, foreign exchange
exposure, financial leasing and external auditors. Banks
are now required to reach a capital adequacy ratio of eight
percent and meet new classification and provisioning
standards for loan portfolios. Most banks are complying.
That said, commercial banks still suffer from extremely low
capitalization rates and are essentially owned by large
trading families who establish the bank to service their own
business needs.
Lending to the private sector is constrained by the lack of
judicial recourse to recover bad loans. To correct this
weakness, a steering committee produced a series of reform
recommendations in mid-1999 that were approved by the
government and sent to the Ministry of Justice for
implementation. Among the recommendations was the
establishment of special loan recovery courts, which began
operations in 2000.
The ROYG was engaged in a program to privatize government-
owned commercial banks, although progress in this area was
thwarted when parliament did not approve a World Bank credit
to fund the privatization program. The National Bank of
Yemen was to be put up for sale pending a final audit report
for 1999, but no action has been taken. The Yemen Bank for
Reconstruction and Development is under restructuring and
will likely not be privatized. The two remaining
specialized banks--housing and agriculture--are also being
restructured. Once sound, they too were to be privatized.
In June 2000, the president signed the Central Bank law no.
14, which grants greater independence to the CBY. Its
mandate will now focus on price stability, limiting public
sector financing to emergency loans, freedom to adopt its
own monetary and exchange rate policies, and enforcing
greater commercial bank accountability. It is authorized to
conduct inspections of all banks implement provisioning and
capital increase schedules, and enforces penalties and
corrective measures. Interbank activities are limited, and
there are no equity or bond markets. The ROYG is planning
to establish a stock market in Yemen to promote the
government's private sector-led growth strategy. However,
the consensus of most Yemeni and foreign observers is that
the country lacks the expertise to establish such a market
at this time. It is also doubtful that there are sufficient
numbers of Yemeni investors to sustain an active stock
market.
The CBY began offering treasury bills in December 1995.
Commercial banks purchased a large share of the bills,
investing up to 30 percent of their assets in them. The
interest rate on T-bills was gradually reduced from a high
of 23 percent in 1999 to about 13-14 percent in April 2003
to encourage investment lending.
A.10. Political Violence
While there were no kidnappings in 2002, Kidnappings of
foreigners have occurred sporadically since the 1970s and
received wide international press coverage. Some tribal
groups have used hostage taking to put pressure on the
government to obtain projects or services, or to focus
government attention on the redress of grievances. Victims
have included foreign businessmen, diplomats, aid workers
and tourists. Historically, most have been treated well and
released unharmed after two to three days, although some
have been held as long as four weeks. A botched rescue
attempt during a May 2000 kidnapping of a Norwegian citizen
resulted in his death. Tribal kidnappings of foreigners
have been on the decline since 1998, partly as a result of
tough penalties enacted by the Yemeni government as a
deterrent, and no foreigner has been kidnapped in Yemen
since November 2001. The president has spoken out strongly
against kidnapping, terming it "terrorism." Many tribal
leaders have given assurances to the ROYG to cooperate in
hunting down kidnappers.
A significant exception to the usual pattern was the
kidnapping in Abyan Governorate of 16 foreign tourists in
December 1998. Four died during a rescue attempt, at least
two of those at the hands of the kidnappers. Most
observers, however, have concluded that this incident was
the responsibility of Islamic extremists rather than tribal
kidnappers. The perpetrators were tried, found guilty of
murder, and sentenced. The Yemeni national who led the
kidnapping was sentenced to death under the anti-kidnapping
law of 1998 and executed in October 1999. The non-Yemeni
nationals involved were given maximum prison sentences, but
some were deported in early 2002. In late December 2002,
three American doctors were killed near the city of Ibb.
The perpetrator was convicted and sentenced to execution.
Some tribal elements hijack automobiles or other expensive
equipment owned by foreign companies as another means to
pressure the government to accede to their demands.
Particularly where oil and mineral extraction are concerned,
some tribes in the mineral-rich areas feel that they are not
getting their share of the wealth. Investors in such
ventures should be sensitive to the need to hire more local
tribesmen than might first be judged economically necessary
in order to build community relations and preserve the
peace. The provision of community-based buildings and
services, such as in health care and education, can go a
long way toward ensuring trouble-free investment in isolated
areas.
The bombing of the USS Cole in Aden harbor in October 2000,
in which 17 U.S. Servicemen and woman were killed, and the
October 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker of the coast of
Mukalla, are considered to be the acts of international
terrorists. The Republic of Yemen Government and the United
States are cooperating closely on counter terrorism
measures, and in investigations and preventions following
repeated terrorist acts.
A.11. Corruption
As one of the poorest countries in the world, with a hugely
overstaffed (due in part to the unification of North and
South Yemen) and underpaid civil service, Yemen has a
significant and widely acknowledged corruption problem. If
anticorruption laws exist on the books, they are not
enforced. Illicit activities range from soliciting and
paying bribes to facilitate or obstruct projects, to
leveraging dispute settlements, skewing taxation and customs
tariff augmentations, and engaging in family or tribal
nepotism. The government recognizes that it must affect
civil service and administrative reforms (better jobs,
higher pay, removal of the worst offenders) to create new
disincentives to corruption. Following Yemen's signing of a
border treaty with Saudi Arabia in June 2000, Yemen's
president Ali Abdullah Saleh announced a new commitment to
reduce corruption. The Ministry of Civil Service has the
lead on anticorruption issues and has set up an executive
committee to address the issue. A national strategic plan
to eliminate corruption is still not in place, however.
B - Bilateral Investment Agreements
The U.S. and Yemen are currently discussing a bilateral
investment treaty (BIT) but there is no bilateral tax treaty
between the two governments. According to the General
Investment Authority, Yemen signed in 2002 three new
investment promotion and protection agreements, bringing the
total bilateral treaties to 31, with five additional
countries having initialed a tentative agreement. Yemen has
bilateral investment treaties with Algeria, Austria,
Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Djibouti, Egypt,
Ethiopia, France, Federation of Russia, Germany, Indonesia,
Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, the
Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, South Africa, Sweden,
Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, the UAE, Ukraine, and the United
Kingdom. Yemen has initialed agreements with, Croatia,
Hungary, India, Mongolia, and Romania.
C - OPIC and other Investment Insurance Programs
Yemen and the United States signed an investment guarantee
agreement in 1972. As of October 1997, OPIC and EXIM Bank
are on cover (or provide guarantees) for both private and
public sector projects of short and medium term (up to seven
years) duration. Yemen is a member of the Multilateral
Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).
D - Labor
The Yemeni government generally adopts International Labor
Organization (ILO) standards regarding labor and worker
rights. In 1999, it ratified ILO conventions on the
elimination of the worst forms of child labor and the
minimum work age for employment. As in other areas,
enforcement of the law is weak. Child labor has increased
due to the negative impact of economic reforms. Most
children work with their families in agriculture, although
an increasing number are being sent out to work in shops and
restaurants. To address this issue, the ROYG signed in June
2000 an agreement to cooperate with the International
Program on Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC). After
ratification of the ILO, the ROYG established the Child
Labor Unit at the Ministry of Labor to implement and enforce
child labor laws and regulations. Investors may find the
local pool of skilled labor for technology intensive
ventures limited.
Yemen's overall illiteracy rate is approximately 47 percent
(2000), 27.7 percent for men and 67.5 percent for women.
Given the departure of thousands of unskilled and semi-
skilled Yemeni laborers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other
Gulf states during the 1990-1991 Gulf war, Yemen's
unemployment rate now stands at about 35 percent. Those who
complete secondary education and university studies in Yemen
often do not possess the same professional standards as
their counterparts hailing from Western educational
institutions. University graduates also experience
difficulty finding appropriate employment and are sometimes
unwilling to accept lower skilled jobs. The government is
beginning to focus considerable attention on increasing
access to and improving the quality of vocational training
as a means to develop a cadre of skilled laborers in high
demand fields, including construction workers, electricians,
plumbers and carpenters.
E - Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports
The Yemen Free Zone Public Authority was established in 1991
to develop the Aden Free Zone. Yeminvest, a joint venture
of the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) and the Bin Mahfouz
Group of Saudi Arabia, was awarded the concession to develop
the area. PSA now holds primary ownership and manages the
Aden Container Terminal. ACT started operating in March
1999, and was officially opened in September of that year.
The impressive growth was achieved in spite of the effects
of September 11. However, the October 2002 terrorist attack
on the French oil tanker M/V Limburg significantly impacted
Yemen's economy. Initially, insurance premiums rose 250%
and as a result, ships were diverted to the ports of
Djibouti and Salalah in Oman. The ROYG is working with the
insurance industry to lower insurance rates, and by the end
of 2003 insurance premiums may drop somewhat. In 2003, it is
expected to handle 388,500 Tons Equivalent Units, TEUs, a 3
percent rise over the 377,400 TEUs of 2002. The port mainly
serves as a transshipment hub, but attempts are being made
to increase the percentage of the local cargo through the
development of the industrial and warehousing estate. Both
the container terminal and industrial estate are run by PSA
and its infrastructure is now in place.
In its first phase of development, ACT planned to handle up
to 1 million Tons Equivalent Units annually on its two-
berth, 700m quay. Recently a fifth quay crane was added in
February 2002 bringing current capacity to 650,000 TEUs.
The container yard of 35 hectares offers storage capacity
for 10,000 boxes.
The industrial and warehousing estate called Aden Distripark
(ADP) has been launched. The first 30 hectares are ready
for occupation and building of tenants' factories and
warehouses. This area will grow to 74 hectares and
eventually to 1,550 hectares when demand increases. The
Aden Container Terminal and the Aden Free Zone are promising
areas for investment. Majority ownership and operation by
PSA as assured technical excellence both in construction and
management of the container port. Yeminvest is offering
special "early bird" deals to the first investors.
Opportunities in light industry, repackaging and
storage/distribution operations are welcome. Future plans
include development of heavy industry and more extensive
tourist facilities than currently exist in the greater Aden
area.
Free zone incentives include 100 percent foreign ownership,
no personal income taxes for non-Yemenis, and corporate tax
holiday for 15 years (renewable for 10 additional years),
100 percent repatriation of capital and profits, no currency
restrictions, and no restrictions on, or sponsoring
required, for the employment of foreign staff. Aden's main
selling point is its strategic location - nine days steaming
from Europe and seven from Singapore. It is just 4 nautical
miles off the main Far East - Europe sea route. PSA's
expertise and management guarantees stability and efficiency
to shipping lines calling at ACT and investors to the ADP.
For further information, contact: Richard Cheong, Chief
Executive Officer, Yeminvest, P.O. Box 4165, Aden, Republic
of Yemen (Phone: 967-2-234-789 or Fax: 967-2-234-880.
Email: crichard@yeminvest.com, or check out the website:
http://www.yeminvest.com; or http://www.psa.com.sg).
In May 2001, a new terminal at Aden International Airport
was officially opened. In addition a study was completed in
August 2001 for future plans for the airport to include a
duty free zone and cargo village to facilitate transit trade
with the Aden Free Zone port facilities. The Aden Free Zone
Authority is looking for a company to build and operate the
cargo village.
F - Foreign Direct Investment Statistics
Yemen produces no reliable statistics on foreign direct
investment. Most U.S. investment in Yemen to date is in oil
exploration, production and oil field services.