Republic of Yemen

Demographic Profile

The Republic of Yemen lies at the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula between longitude 12 and 20 north and between 14 and 54 east. Total land area is about 555,000 Km2 (excluding the Empty Quarter). Yemen is bordered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the north, the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean in the south, the Red Sea in the west and the Sultanate of Oman in the east. The population of Yemen is approx. 19 million, at a growth rate of 4% per annum, one of the highest growth rates in the world. Density of population is 32 persons per Sq. Km. The distribution of population varies by region. 24% of the total population live in urban areas.

Economic profile

The Yemeni economy was primarily dependent on agriculture. In 1990, agriculture and fisheries contributed to 25.1% of the GDP followed by government services (16.1%), extracting industries (14.1%) and transport, storage and telecommunications (15.3%). Other sectors topped by manufacturing industries, including oil refining (9.6%), wholesale and retail trade (6.8%), financial institutions, real-estate and business services (5.7%), construction sector (2.7%) and the remaining percentage for other sectors. After a decade, in 2000, the contributors to the economy were shifted to: oil and gas (33.73%), agriculture, forestry and fishing (15.34%), government services (10.82%), transport, storage and communications (10.34%), followed by other sectors. Oil production has been a main economic activity in Yemen. Yemen’s oil production reached 464,000 barrels per day in 2002 and oil exports are about 90% of total exports of Yemen. The Yemeni Government provides basic services to the population from education and health to social development services, in addition to defence, security and economic services. For the year 2002, India was the second largest importer of Masila crude oil from Yemen. The slow transformation into a market economy and the ongoing economic reforms adopted by the Government during the second half of the 1990s created conditions conducive for investment in Yemen. An Investment Law No. 22 was issued in 1999 so as to create an institutional and legal infrastructure to provide confidence to investors and to promote Yemeni, Arab and foreign investment prospects in Yemen. The Government also offered a set of incentives – both financial and non-financial – for investment projects in Yemen. The General Investment Authority (GIA), alongwith other governmental agencies, is engaged in investment promotion activities in Yemen. The GIA has identified investment opportunities in Yemen in the production of fertilizers, LPG, power generation, limestone rock exploration, Felt/Asbestos industry, glass, granite mining/cutting, establishment of tourist resorts, construction of 4 or 3 star hotels, fishing, poultry, etc.

Higher Education System, including enrolments

Yemen’s higher education sector experienced a dramatic expansion in the last decade and annual enrolment is increasing approx. by 16% each year since 1990. According to Central Statistical Organisation’s (CSO) Statistics, during the year 2001-2002 about 1.8 lakh Yemeni students were registered in Government Universities, apart from 1281 non-Yemeni students. There are 7 Government Universities, 5 Private Universities and 251 secondary schools in Yemen, apart from a number of vocational training centres. Although Yemen’s universities do have science, engineering and medical faculties, most of the students are concentrated in social sciences/arts fields. In order to develop relevant curricula that would meet the demand for skills in the economy, the Government of Yemen decided to undertake a major reform in higher education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research was established in 2001 to spearhead this effort. Currently only one in 17 graduates is educated in a technical discipline in comparison to the international average of one in four. Yemeni and foreign businessmen, therefore, find it difficult to find bilingual, literate and IT-proficient local workers. The World Bank and European donor countries have made technical and vocational training a priority in their aid programmes to Yemen. There are a number of Indian Professors teaching in Yemeni Universities.

Number of students going abroad for higher education

Between 300 to 400.

Popular countries of destination

USA, U.K. and other European countries, India, etc.

Popular programs of study

computer science, engineering, management, learning of English language, etc.

What is that could attract students to Indian Higher education Institutions?

Presently several Yemeni students are studying in Indian Universities on self-financing basis as well as under 30 Scholarships offered by ICCR every year. It is understood that about 700 Yemeni students are studying in University of Pune alone. Perhaps proximity to India, higher standards of learning and low cost compared to studying in Western countries may be the reasons for attracting Yemeni students to Indian Universities.

What is that could restrain them from coming to India for Higher education?

To the best of our knowledge, there are no reasons which restrain Yemeni students from coming to India. Any complaint received from Yemeni authorities and students regarding procedural or administrative delays in Indian higher education system regarding admission, issuance of certificates, etc. are looked into by this Embassy.

What promotional strategy could be adopted?

Holding of seminars/workshops on Indian higher education in Sana’a and other important cities of Yemen could go a long way in attracting more Yemeni students to India. At present, a proposal to hold such a Seminar in Sana’a is under consideration by M/s Educational Consultants India Ltd. (Ed.CIL). Yemen being an Arabic-speaking country, it would be quite useful if we could utilize the services of bi-lingual speakers in such seminars, who know both Arabic and English languages.

General comments

Nil

Name, designation and address of the Officer of Embassy nominated for coordinating activities for Promoting Indian Higher Education

Shri P.R.Chouhan,
First Secretary & HOC,
Embassy of India,
Building No. 12,
Djibouti Street, Off Haddah Street
Sana’a,Republic of Yemen.
Tel. 00-9671-441251/252,
Fax: 441257
Email : indiaemb@y.net.ye, indcom@y.net.ye