Abyan cement factory Project starts, Yemen

Minister of Industry, Khaled Al-Sheikh and Eng. Ahmad Fareed, Governor of Abyan laid down at the start of this week, the foundation stone for the entrepreneurial project of Batees Cement Factory in the Governorate of Abyan at a cost of US$ 265 million. The project is being implemented by the Yemeni-Saudi Investment Company (YSIC).

In the ceremony of the occasion, the Minister of Industry delivered a speech in which he welcomed all the foreign and local investments that serve the country. He also pointed out that the investment law grants privileges and encouraged investors in all Yemeni provinces.

On his part, the Governor of Abyan stressed in his speech that Abyan is a fertile land and famous for agriculture, fish production, and ancient sites.

“The Abyan locals have been waiting for the project for about 30 years,” said he. He added that the inauguration of the factory would contribute to improving trade activities in the province and creating more job opportunities for the citizens in Abyan, which has a high unemployment rate.

The governor demanded the Company to give shares to some traders to contribute to the development of the province.

Several speeches were delivered by Sultan Mohammad Al-Kabeer, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Esayi and Sheikh Hameed Al-Ahmar. They asserted that the project would be completed by the end of 2007 with a production capacity of 6,5 million tons a year and that Abyan inhabitants be given precedence over others in respect of job opportunities.