Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr. Afrah Al-Zouba, held a virtual meeting today with the French Ambassador to Yemen, Catherine Corm-Kammoun, to discuss ways to strengthen development cooperation between the two countries.

The discussions covered a range of priorities, including the institutional reform of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, the modernization of Yemen’s international cooperation framework, and support for the education, health, and food security sectors. The two sides also explored opportunities to strengthen public administration capacity, enhance the role of national institutions in implementing development projects, support customs and tax administration to improve government revenue, discuss Yemen’s outstanding debt portfolio, and explore cooperation with the Paris Club as part of efforts to restore engagement with international financial institutions and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Dr. Al-Zouba briefed the French side on the priorities of the new government, led by Prime Minister Dr. Shaye Mohsen Al-Zindani, in line with the directives of Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi. She highlighted the government’s focus on economic reform, domestic revenue mobilization, improving essential public services, and strengthening state institutions.

For her part, Ambassador Catherine Corm-Kammoun affirmed that France is among the strongest supporters of resuming the IMF’s consultations with Yemen, noting that progress on this file would create broader opportunities for French development financing. She also reaffirmed France’s continued support for Yemen through bilateral programmes in food security, health, nutrition, culture, and cultural heritage, as well as through its role within international financial institutions and climate finance funds.