Source: Prime Ministry
Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak chaired an extensive meeting on Sunday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Fisheries in the temporary capital, Aden, with the leadership of the ministry and its affiliated bodies in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
The meeting was dedicated to discussing visions and ideas to enhance the role of the agricultural and fisheries sectors in resource development and supporting the national economy, as well as projects that could be implemented in this vital sector, which is among the government’s top five priorities. This is to support efforts to address current challenges and maximize benefits from promising sectors to achieve economic and living stability for citizens.
Proposals aimed at addressing food security challenges were also discussed, including expanding arable land, developing fish landing centers, and the fishing sector.
The Prime Minister directed the General Authority for Land, Survey, and Urban Planning and the Ministry of Agriculture to prevent the conversion of agricultural land into residential plots across the republic’s governorates, emphasizing the need to preserve and expand agricultural areas, rehabilitate land, stop encroachments, protect natural reserves, and prevent construction on beaches and public spaces, in accordance with cabinet decisions. He stressed the importance of leveraging the promising potential of the agricultural and fisheries sectors, thinking differently to create partnerships with countries or the private sector, and seeking investments and projects by learning from other countries’ experiences.
Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak pointed out the crucial role expected from the ministry’s leadership and staff in supporting the government’s directions in implementing reforms and the five main priorities, which include the agricultural and fisheries sectors. He highlighted the importance of creating franchise models and achieving direct results in this regard. He praised the significant efforts made by the ministry’s leadership and its staff to improve performance, urging the continuation of accelerating achievements and expressing the government’s readiness to mobilize all possible support for accomplishments in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
He stated, “We must double our performance at all levels to optimally utilize resources amidst the difficult economic conditions resulting from the stoppage of crude oil exports and the continuous Houthi terrorist attacks on commercial ships and international navigation, focusing on what we can do to uplift promising sectors, foremost among them agriculture and fisheries.”
The Prime Minister also touched upon the economic developments and recent changes in the national currency’s situation and its causes, detailing the government’s efforts coordinated with the Presidential Leadership Council to control inflation, budget deficits, and stabilize the exchange rate of the national currency. He confirmed continuing with economic, financial, and administrative reforms, working on enhancing transparency, accountability, combating corruption, developing public revenues, and rationalizing expenditure, with a shared responsibility for everyone in implementing this.