JEDDAH, 27 December 2003 — The Saudi Exports Development Center wants to set up a warehouse on the Kingdom’s border with Yemen to ensure free flow of goods to the neighboring Arab country.
“It will be similar to the one proposed near the Iraqi border to store Saudi products, boost bilateral trade and facilitate travel of businessmen,” Abdul Rahman Al-Zamil, executive president of the center, said.
Al-Zamil said the proposed warehouse, near Najran, would help increase Saudi Arabia’s already growing exports to Yemen threefold. The Kingdom’s exports to Yemen jumped from SR580 million in 2000 to SR888 million in 2001.
Yemen depends on the Kingdom for most of its imports. “Every day some 200 to 300 cars are transported from Najran to Yemeni towns,” Al-Zamil said.
“Of course we get exceptional treatment but we expect more to remove obstacles and boost exports,” Al-Watan Arabic daily quoting the SEDC chief as saying.
SEDC’s board of directors is expected to discuss the project at the coming meeting to present the matter to Saudi authorities for approval. “We expect a positive response from the government,” he added.
SEDC intends to establish warehouses on a 40 km-area along the border to display products from both sides.
Major Saudi exports to Yemen include polyethylene, cement, dates, steel pipes, diapers, drinks and paper cartons. The Kingdom imports products worth SR300 million from Yemen. They include fresh fish, honey, bananas, onion, coffee and millet.
The two neighbors signed a landmark border deal in June 2000, and the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council has played a significant role in strengthening bilateral economic and commercial ties.
A series of agreements for cooperation in economic, commercial, technical and cultural sectors are in place, as is a Saudi-Yemeni Business Council.
