Yemen: Government Trends Towards Importing Wheat from India at Preferential Prices

Arab Sea Newspaper - News Updates

Arabian Sea - Yemen - Follow-ups: Yemen is looking forward to greater facilitation for importing Indian wheat at preferential prices, and supporting food security projects such as developing grain and vegetable production. This was revealed by the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, during his meeting on Sunday with the Ambassador of the Republic of India to Yemen, Suhail Ajaz Khan. Al-Alimi affirmed that India is a major trade and economic partner for Yemen, pointing out that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries reached about one billion dollars last year, despite the exceptional circumstances the country is going through. He also appreciated India's historical positions and its continuous humanitarian support, including shipments of wheat, medical aid, and vaccines. Al-Alimi stressed the importance of the Indian role in protecting maritime security and international navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, calling for support for the legitimate government to end the threats of the Houthis in a way that guarantees regional stability. For his part, the Indian Ambassador affirmed his country's commitment to supporting the security and stability of Yemen, and working to expand bilateral cooperation in various fields, announcing plans to move the Indian consular services office to the temporary capital, Aden, and studying new support programs for the government and the Yemeni people. These moves come in light of Yemen's reliance on imports to cover about 90% of its wheat needs, with a quantity estimated at 3.5 million tons annually, while the government seeks to secure stable supply sources amidst global fluctuations in the grain market. In May 2022, India banned the export of wheat due to declining production and rising local prices, but it later issued exemptions for some countries, including Yemen.