Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr. Afrah Al-Zouba, met today with the Ambassador of Japan to Yemen, Yoichi Nakashima, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and expand development partnerships across a range of sectors.

Dr. Al-Zouba expressed the Yemeni government’s appreciation for Japan’s continued support, which covers several key sectors, including health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and education. She also highlighted Japan’s contributions to customs infrastructure, the provision of specialized equipment, and capacity-building and training programmes for Yemeni professionals.

The Minister commended Japan’s generous contributions through United Nations agencies operating in Yemen, noting that these programmes reach millions of beneficiaries across the country’s governorates.

Dr. Al-Zouba also outlined the priorities of the new government, including economic recovery, improved basic public services, and strengthened institutional governance. She expressed her aspiration to deepen the partnership with Japan and expand cooperation into new sectors that support Yemen’s national development priorities.

For his part, Ambassador Nakashima reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to continuing its support for Yemen and to assisting the country’s recovery and stabilization efforts. He also expressed Japan’s readiness to explore new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

The meeting was attended by Jamal Awadh, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Yemen in Riyadh.