Meetings of  the Yemeni-Saudi Follow up Committee, affiliated to the Yemeni-Saudi Coordination Council,  started on Saturday in Sana'a.

The meetings were chaired jointly by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abdul Karim Al-Arhabi and the Saudi Trade minister Abdullah Bin Ahmed Zenel.

The meetings focused on economic cooperation between the two countries particularly in trade, industry, agriculture and investment areas. The meetings also discussed issues related to preparations for  the next  meeting of the Yemeni-Saudi Coordination Council which would be held in Aden after the Eid holiday.

The meetings also saw bilateral  documents which were prepared by the Preparatory committee that met recently in Sana'a.

The preparatory committee prepared several documents to be signed during the council next meeting regarding the  release of   SR 798 million out of the Saudi financial pledges for Yemen and that were promised by the Saudi leadership at the Donor Conference in London 2006.

The preparatory committee also signed an agreement for economic and technical cooperation as well as establishing mechanisms for coordination in the future.

The meeting was attended by the ministers of Agriculture and Irrigation and the Saudi State Minister, member of the Saudi Minister Council  Mutalib Bin Abdullah Al-Nafisa.

The next round  of the Yemeni Saudi Coordination Council is expected to discuss increasing trade value between Yemen and Saudi Arabia as well as activating border towns to facilitate the flow of goods.

Furthermore, the meeting will deal with the issue of completing the Aden General Hospital and the setting up of the Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Heart Center among other topics on the agenda.

Saudi Arabia is one of the Gulf countries providing support for Yemen with $ 1.3 billion she pledged at the Donor Conference in London 2006.

Saudi products continue to see strong sales in Yemen, however,  according to figures different rates of trade exchange remain huge.