Aden, Jumada I 24, 1438, Feb 21, 2017, SPA --It is expected that projects and programs of reconstruction of Yemen after the war ends and restoration of legitimacy will contribute to the revival of the project of free trade zones between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, especially in the regions of Najran and Jazan border points with Yemen. Studies indicate that the establishment of a free trade zone on the Saudi-Yemeni border would contribute to serving economies of the two countries and increasing the exchange of trade and investment, as well as the creation of thousands of jobs for the youth of the two countries, especially during the post-war period, where Yemen will require millions of tons of cement, rebar, wood and other infrastructure materials. The two countries had considered the establishment of a free economic zone in Al-Wadeeah area of Najran region with support from the private sector for small and medium enterprises and the Islamic Development Bank, but the project stopped due to events that the region witnessed since 2011. Yemenis are looking forward to the resumption of these talks and seeing this dream project, which will create huge investments and provide thousands of jobs for young people in both countries. In previous statements, the former Chief of Saudi-Yemeni Business Council, Dr. Abdullah Marei Mahfouz has explained that the project represents an opportunity to support the movement of trade between the two countries, and an opportunity to Yemen, specifically to increase its exports of fish, fruits and vegetables, noting that the economic city would have developed to be a center for storing, packaging and light industries. He further said that the establishment of the Economic City needs SR 250,000,000 investments in preparation for the start of the buying and selling movement and predicted that commercial traffic in the first year would reach SR 500 million and to amount to billions of Saudi riyals after merchants in nearby areas to Najran and Jazan regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as in Yemen governorates of Hadramout, Al-Jawf and Saada would find favorable investment opportunities. According to the Council of Saudi Chambers, the free economic zone between the two countries represents a gateway for Saudi products to African countries, where Yemen is an adjacent and hub market for the Saudi markets in the fields of trade and investment, and an important gateway for Saudi products to the countries of the African continent. Statistics indicate that the number of joint Saudi-Yemeni projects in the Kingdom is 340 projects an 109 projects in Yemen. --SPA 15:22 LOCAL TIME 12:22 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w337137