His Excellency President Ali Abdullah Saleh attended the inauguration ceremony of the third phase of SFD operations, and delivered a speech in which His Excellency praised SFD management for the development efforts it has exerted.

“What the Social Fund has been doing is very impressive, and we provide the Social Fund with all our support. We call upon the Social Fund to continue its effective contribution to the developmental process and to combating poverty”. The President also stressed that the distinguished developmental work of the Social Fund based on scientific basis should be continued. He added that the Social Fund has implemented in the first and second phase 3300 projects with a total of 6 million and 600 thousand beneficiaries, and with a total cost of 45 billion YR. In the third phase of operations (2004-2008), 4400 projects will be implemented with a total cost of 76 billion YR. Mr. President also said that the government has also increased the annual allocations for the Social fund from 150 million YR to 1 billion and 200 million YR. He said: “This increase is an excellent step and I hope the government contribution will increase more in the coming budgets (2005 and 2006), and that the contributions of international and Arabian funds as well as various donor governments will increase; “When government contributions increase this will encourage others to contribute”. The president also said that he hopes the World Bank will increase its commitments towards development in Yemen . He also said: “As Mr. Vice Prime Minister said, the situation in 1994-1995 was very bad, but now things are improving”. The president said that he extends his appreciation to all the governments, organizations and funds that are supporting the process of development in Yemen , which is proceeding in a planned and scientific manner and away from chaos.

Mr. President also urged SFD officials to give remote and deprived districts special attention, and encouraged communities to participate in project implementation with necessary labor and material. He added that it is the responsibility of local councils and governors to increase the awareness among communities on the importance of participation, especially in education, water and roads, and that they have to meet more frequently with beneficiaries in districts, sub-districts and villages.

Concluding his speech, Mr. President praised all SFD staff for their great efforts, and wished the Social Fund more success and achievements in the coming years.