Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Jan 19: India has offered unilateral concession to Yemen to exempt Yemeni exports to India from customs duty under India’s “Duty-Free Tariff Preference” (DFTP) scheme as part of the Narendra Modi Government’s commitment to render economic assistance to the “Least Developed Countries” (LDCs).
This was disclosed here today by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh while speaking to a delegation of the Republic of Yemen which called on him at North Block this morning.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, it is a providential coincidence that a delegation of Yemen is visiting New Delhi on the eve of India’s Republic Day which commemorates the implementation of Constitution of India and this is also the time around when the Republic of Yemen is engaged in giving final touches to its own constitution.
Recalling the long history of people-to-people contact between India and Yemen, Dr Jitendra Singh revealed that large number of people of Yemeni origin are still settled in Hyderabad and their forefathers worked in the security forces of the erstwhile Nizam of Hyderabad. On the other hand, he said, it is significant to note that about 100,000 people of Indian origin have settled in Yemen.
Welcoming the formation of the Yemen Government under Prime Minister Khaled Bahah, Dr Jitendra Singh hoped that the Al Houthis and Southern Movement issues will be resolved amicably.
Underlining the common commitment of the two nations to the values of democracy, Dr Jitendra Singh appreciated the fact that like India, Yemen also follows a multiparty democracy with a bicameral legislation and the Lower House or Lok Sabha in India is called ‘Majlis-e-Nuwab’ there while the Upper House or Rajya Sabha here is known as ‘Majlis-e-Shoura’ there.
In the years to come, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Indian Government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen to establish comprehensive economic partnership with Yemen, particularly in the fields of oil, gas, minerals, power, infrastructure and telecom. In this context, he referred to figures of previous years and stated that during the financial year of 2013-14, the bilateral trade between the two countries was over 2.089 billion US dollars.
The Head of the Yemen Delegation Afrah Saleh Mohammed Badwilan conveyed ‘Republic Day’ greetings on behalf of the Government of Yemen. She said, there are many things in common between the two countries including the appearance and lifestyle of the people. She said, Yemen is keen to learn from India’s expertise in various fields and India’s capability to confront various contemporary challenges.
The 18-member Yemen delegation included, among others, Ali Yahya Ahmed Al Sunaidar, Ahmed Mohammed Saeed Al Zekri, Sadeq Abdullah Ali Al Fosaiel, Abdullah Hasan Mohammed Al Sharki, Muheb Ali Abdullah Muhebalnabi, Mohammed Ali Ali Al Sabri, Abdulkarim Mohamed Mashoof Al Alaslami, Mohammed Ahmed Saeed Al Kubati, Noor Al Deen Mohammed Al Azazi, Mustafa Nasr Ali Al Hiagem and Ebrahim Abdullah Yahia Al Dhahri.
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