DUBAI: Yemen’s president unveiled a clampdown on public sector spending yesterday, including a feasibility review of state-owned companies and a ban on all but economy class travel for ministers in the impoverished country.
Yemen has struggled to pay public sector salaries and finance food and energy imports, which has led to power cuts and fuel shortages as its fight against Al Qaeda militants and other rebel groups lays waste to state finances.
“Joint private and public ventures and other economic entities owned by the state will be reviewed for economic feasibility,” a government statement said late on Wednesday, describing President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s package as urgent.
“It is difficult to put a number on it but we expect to save billions of Yemeni rials,” Mohammed Albasha, spokesman for the Yemeni Embassy in Washington, said.
Among the measures, recruitment has been frozen for all state institutions, procurement of cars has been halted, and international travel for senior officials will be restricted.
“Government officials, including ministers, are to be limited to a maximum of four overseas trips a year,” the statement said. “State officials are no longer permitted to travel first or business class.”
Hadi has been trying to stabilise the country for over two years, after political and economic turmoil forced his predecessor to step down. But the state’s push against Islamic militants and rebels has sparked attacks on oil pipelines that are crucial to obtaining up to 70 percent of state revenues.
Yemen earned just $671m from exporting crude oil in January-May, nearly 40 percent less than in the same period last year.
The Sanaa government will create a military unit from its special forces to help combat tax and customs evasion in a country awash with weapons, the statement said.
REUTERS
