Minister of Planning Discusses Strengthening Coordination and Supporting Investment with a Delegation from the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation

21 July 2026

Aden – Saba

The Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr Afrah Al-Zuba, today met in the temporary capital, Aden, with a joint delegation from the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to discuss efforts to strengthen joint coordination and support the improvement of the investment climate and the empowerment of the private sector.

The meeting discussed the outcomes of the mission’s consultations with representatives of the private sector and relevant government bodies, as well as the importance of aligning the International Finance Corporation’s interventions with the government’s priorities and economic reforms, and of strengthening institutional coordination with the Ministry of Planning to ensure the integration of efforts and the achievement of the desired development impact.

The meeting also addressed the latest developments in the assessment of Yemen’s investment climate, mechanisms for developing the business environment, and opportunities to expand financing and investment programmes in priority sectors, alongside a review of a number of joint programmes and projects currently being implemented with the World Bank, and the importance of aligning them with the Country Partnership Framework and the forthcoming National Development Plan.

The Minister of Planning and International Cooperation emphasised the importance of the visit in light of the drafting of the Development and Reconstruction Plan for the years 2027–2029, noting the need to strengthen the International Finance Corporation’s presence in Yemen through practical programmes and initiatives that contribute to stimulating investment and supporting private sector growth.

Dr Afrah Al-Zuba explained that the government is keen to strengthen its partnership with the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation in line with development and economic reform priorities. She emphasised the importance of institutional coordination and the integration of efforts to ensure that interventions are directed towards priority sectors, thereby improving the investment climate and stimulating the private sector’s role in achieving sustainable development in the country.

For their part, the delegation from the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation noted that the two institutions would continue to support Yemen and to coordinate and consult with the Yemeni government and partners during the coming phase, whilst working to expand investment and financing opportunities for the private sector in line with the government’s development priorities and reforms.