Yemen

Meetings in Yemen were a great success and we shall be back very soon.

Having just had a week in the South of Yemen. Hadhramaut Governorate of the Republic of Yemen. Land area 193,032 square Km. 90% of the value of the countries exports are from this province according to "Wilkiepedia."

A country in chaos yet with an amazing history and robust population. The regions I visited were suffering from the sensitive instability of war. Reconstruction is not yet in the vision of the International community. The rule of the gun is exactly that the rule. The military are looking bedraggled and tired with a dramatic lack of visual coercivity in uniform or discipline. That statement aside they are I'm sure vicious fighters with little requirement for resupply of food clothing equipment as we in the West take for granted as part of our war machine. Fiercely nationalist in regards to the province and South of Yemen with the old flag of South Yemen flying on all checkpoints a throw back to times they feel were fairer and peaceful. Tribal and loyal to the leaders they see as supporting their families and region you would be hard pressed to find many northern Yemenis in the South although of course inter- marriage and economic migration does ensure Northern Yemenis are integrated in the day to day life of running shops working in hotels etc.

My trip was as I expected and I found a country which is the same yet different to others I've worked in such as Afghanistan is possibly the most similar however with NO expats around it did have a more sinister feel. A history of Al Quaeda living quietly amongst the people and doing this for a decade plus you would expect an air of suspicion of foreigners and this is the actuality. Having achieved the goals of meeting the Governor and getting the network I need to develop the projects I have decided to roll out in the country I can say I am looking forward to engaging further with the people and helping where the world has refused to go and the local population just survive schools are attended shops sell fruits and fishermen go to sea, yet war rages throughout the country and the richest countries in the world are involved in pursuing the war. The Saudi and UAE military have a report with the locals that seems to be much better than our Western intervention of recent years.

Hadhraumouts Governor seems to be liked and he is genuinely pushing hard to engage international companies to assist in a sensible manner.

If any Oil and Gas engineering companies are looking for engineers I have the support of the governor to develop an Internship program to enable these young engineers to gain valuable work experience. Whether in Yemen or abroad if anyone has contacts I can discuss the opportunity with please contact me as soon as possible. There are over 600 certified O & G students jobless and if we don't find them meaningful employment they will lose hope and skills they worked so hard to achieve.

Lets help