The Hadramout Tourist and Real Estate Investment Conference (HTRSIC) is scheduled to present $1 billion worth of investment opportunities later this month in Mukalla. Omer Ba-Jersh, chairman of Hadramout Industry and Commerce Chamber, met with Yemeni and Saudi businessmen last Sunday in Jeddah to discuss the upcoming conference. He said these projects will be ready for investment after profitability studies are carried out. He also noted that the conference, organized by the Hadramout Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Tourist Ministry, the General Investment Authority and Economic and Businesses Group, would focus on available great investment opportunities in Hadramout, Shabwa and Al-Mahra governorates, especially in tourism and real estate sectors. Head of the Saudi delegation in the Yemeni-Saudi Businessmen Council, Abdullah Bin Mahfoudh, called for supporting available investment opportunities in Yemen and desired to rid obstacles facing foreign investment in the country. He said Saudi investors are keen on real estate and port developments in Mukalla, Aden, Hudeidah and Mocha. Meanwhile, deputy general manager of Economic and Business Group, Faisal Abu-Zaki said the measures are being taken to meet this demand, citing progress in the tourism and real estate sectors. Separately, Omar K. Al-Esayi Group (OKAG) plans to set up the largest export port in Yemen in Abyan. A local newspaper said the group has appointed British experts to carry out visibility study of the project. The port would be the largest since it will be designed to export all products produced in the province particularly the cement materials and that will receive international ships. In Sana'a, meanwhile, Oil and Minerals Minister Khaled Bahah said Thailand is keen on buying Yemeni oil Bahah, who represented Yemen in the 23rd world gas conference held in Bangkok on March 11-13, said a delegation from the Thai ministry would pay a visit to Yemen to discuss this matter. Bahah also said 20 Japanese oil firms were briefed during their participation in a symposium related to oil investment opportunities in Yemen. He said several meetings have been held with the companies' representatives during the symposium. __
