Sponsored by Saudi Arabia, the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) signed a $1 billion agreement to support Yemen's economic reform program. The new package will help rebuild institutions and strengthen governance and transparency.
Together with the signing of the agreement, the Yemeni rial’s exchange rate in the interim capital, Aden, and other liberated areas witnessed remarkable improvement against foreign currencies, money exchangers told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan and Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, who is also the Supervisor General of Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program of Yemen (SDRPY).
The Yemeni finance minister, the central bank governor and the AMF chairman signed the agreement in the headquarters of the Saudi finance ministry in Riyadh.
The program is set to provide support for the Yemeni government's efforts to stabilize the economy from 2022 to 2025.
It aims to establish the foundations of economic, financial, and monetary stability in Yemen.
AMF Director General Chairman of the Board Abdulrahman Al Hamidy valued Saudi Arabia’s support to achieve economic, monetary, and financial stability in the countries of the region and abroad.
Al Hamidy noted that Saudi Arabia’s active membership in the G20 has strengthened the Kingdom’s international role, making it the largest supporter of Arab and regional financial institutions.
According to Al Hamidy, the program also focuses on a package of reforms aimed at strengthening the financial position of the Yemeni government, developing the financial and banking sector, creating an enabling environment to enhance the role of the private sector, and involving it in the process of sustainable economic development.
Salem Saleh Bin Braik, the Yemeni finance minister, reaffirmed that Saudi Arabia’s support for Yemen is longstanding.
Braik pointed out that Saudi Arabia’s support comes at a time when Yemen and its people are in dire need, especially considering the Houthi terrorist group’s insistence on inflicting more hardships on Yemenis.