Yemen chairs an international meeting in Cairo to launch the agricultural connectivity platform in Yemen.

Yemen Hosts International Meeting in Cairo to Launch AgriConnect Platform

Yemen’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Fisheries, Salem Al-Saqtri, chaired an extensive international meeting today in Cairo, Egypt. The World Bank organized this gathering to discuss the establishment and launch of the AgriConnect platform. This initiative aims to coordinate efforts, programs, and investments directed towards agricultural development, food security, and economic recovery in Yemen.

Participation from Global Organizations

The meeting attracted representatives from various international organizations, including the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), European Union, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and the Dutch Embassy. Participants attended both in person and via video conference.

Yemen’s Commitment to Agricultural Development

During the meeting, Minister Al-Saqtri reaffirmed the Yemeni government’s full support for the AgriConnect initiative. He emphasized the ministry’s commitment to leading the platform at the national level. Al-Saqtri described AgriConnect as a sustainable institutional framework that unites the government, development partners, the private sector, producers, and financial and research institutions.

Future Expansion Plans

Al-Saqtri expressed the ministry’s ambition to expand the AgriConnect platform in the future. He highlighted the potential to include the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, aiming to leverage Yemen’s resources and investment opportunities in these areas.

World Bank’s Framework for AgriConnect

The World Bank team presented the overarching framework for the AgriConnect initiative. This framework responds to escalating global challenges, including food insecurity, population growth, climate change, and conflicts. The team also reviewed the portfolio of projects that the World Bank plans to connect to the platform in Yemen. Key projects include initiatives aimed at enhancing food security and resilience, as well as agricultural business development.

Targeting Farmers and Agricultural Enterprises

The World Bank outlined its contributions to the AgriConnect platform in Yemen, targeting approximately one million farmers. The initiative aims to support over 100 small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises and producer organizations by 2030. The associated projects and funding linked to this initiative are estimated at around 300 million dollars.

This meeting marks a significant step towards strengthening Yemen’s agricultural sector and enhancing food security through collaborative efforts and strategic investments.

To follow the news in Arabic