Businessmen to bid for huge projects during Gul's visit to Yemen

Some 80 businessmen from the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) will accompany President Abdullah Gul on his visit to Yemen on Jan. 10-11, DEIK said yesterday. In a statement, DEIK said that the large delegation is expected to win significant public tenders during the two-day official visit. There are a number of projects that Turkish companies have already submitted bids for, among them construction of a new airport in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a and a 96-kilometer highway between Sana'a and Damar al-Qarn, which is expected to cost $400 million. Another 104-kilometer highway between the cities of Taiz and Aden will also be put out to bid when the necessary financing is found. In addition, a $3 billion, 4,000-kilometer rural road is to be constructed. Sadik Yildiz, who heads DEIK's Turkish-Yemeni Business Council, said that he expects many bilateral cooperation agreements to be signed for transition to an e-state system, new organized industrial zones, and defense. There are also opportunities for Turkish companies in Yemeni food, furniture and textiles, he added. DEIK hopes to boost trade between Turkey and Yemen from some $400 million to $1 billion by the end of next year, the statement said.