The Local Economic Development Council (LEDC) was announced today in Taiz Governorate as an institutional, advisory, and coordinating platform that brings together representatives of the private sector, relevant government entities, and civil society. The LEDC aims to promote economic dialogue and unify efforts to support economic recovery and sustainable local development, in partnership with the private sector, civil society, and international partners, and is considered the first of its kind in Yemen.
In his opening remarks, the Governor of Taiz, Nabil Shamsan, welcomed all participants attending in person and via videoconference, stressing that the establishment of the LEDC represents the first major economic milestone in Yemen’s history and a significant and unprecedented step toward strengthening partnership between the local authority and the private sector, while creating an effective institutional framework that guides efforts toward sustainable economic development.
Mr. Shamsan — speaking at the ceremony attended by Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Mukhlafi, Advisor to the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council for Economic Affairs; Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative; a representative of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office for Humanitarian Affairs; Moneef Shaibani from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank; Abdel-Moneim Mustafa, the UNDP Aden–Taiz Office Programs Directors; Deputy Chair of the LEDC, Yousef Al-Karimi; Abubakr Al-Shaibani; Mubarak Al-Harwi; directors of executive offices and districts; political party leaders; academics; and specialists, said that the governorate had succeeded in establishing the LEDC, drafting its bylaws and regulations, and formally launching it in full partnership with the United Nations, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society organizations, with the support and guidance of H.E. Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council; the Prime Minister; the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation; the Minister of Local Administration; and the Minister of Industry and Trade. This came through three workshops held over the past period, most notably the workshop that selected Taiz as a model for transitioning toward sustainable development and approved the LEDC’s vision and strategic plan for 2024–2026, which aims to implement essential reforms in governance and public administration, peace and security, basic and social services, and unlocking the economic potential of the governorate.
The Taiz Governor referred to previous workshops, including those in which the 2024 plan and budget were presented and approved, as well as the decision to establish the LEDC. A third workshop was held in Amman, Jordan, during which the 2025 plan and budget were presented and endorsed, resulting in the decision to establish the LEDC. Preparations are currently underway to hold a fourth workshop in Riyadh in January.
Governor Shamsan explained that the LEDC will serve as an inclusive platform for dialogue and consultation and as a local think tank that contributes to diagnosing challenges, proposing practical solutions, stimulating investment, improving the business environment, and opening new horizons for the private sector, thereby positively impacting employment opportunities, service delivery, and the living standards of citizens.
He added that the local authority remains committed to working in the spirit of genuine partnership, based on the belief that economic development is a shared responsibility and that progress in the governorate can only be achieved through coordinated official, community, and economic efforts.
For his part, the Chairman of the Taiz Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the LEDC, Shawqi Hayel, affirmed that the establishment of the LEDC came in response to current challenges and as a result of extensive meetings and workshops involving representatives of the United Nations, the European Union, donors, international organizations, the local authority, the private sector, and civil society organizations. This reflects the need for a comprehensive institutional framework to manage economic dialogue and shape development policies.
Hayel explained that the Taiz governorate faces accumulated economic and development challenges caused by years of war and blockade, which have affected the economy, infrastructure, and basic services, and led to declining investment, job losses, rising poverty rates, and worsening living conditions and food security.
He stressed that these challenges require moving from partial solutions to an integrated approach linking economic priorities with humanitarian needs, peacebuilding, and sustainable development. As an advisory body, the LEDC will work to improve the business environment, stimulate investment, support the private sector, and encourage small and medium enterprises, especially innovative ones, while focusing on the knowledge economy and promising sectors and strengthening governance and transparency.
The LEDC Chairman also noted the completion of its institutional structure and the preparation of a strategic plan for 2026–2028, along with the adoption of the 2026 annual operational plan, as flexible documents designed to translate vision into practical programs that have a tangible impact on people’s lives and the governorate’s economy.
Hayel emphasized that the success of the LEDC depends on complementary roles, commitment to a spirit of partnership among all actors, and support for security and stability as essential prerequisites for development and investment. He underscored the need to rise above narrow interests and place the governorate’s priorities first.
Arwa Al-Omari, member of the Board of the Taiz Chamber of Commerce and Industry, read the LEDC’s founding declaration.
The statement highlighted the significance of establishing the LEDC as an important turning point in the history of the governorate, with its vision, mission, plans, and mechanisms designed to achieve recovery and sustainable development in partnership with civil society organizations.
She stressed that the civil society organizations selected for membership were chosen through a transparent and competitive process based on clear professional criteria, thereby strengthening community participation and institutionalized collaborative development work.
The statement expressed the LEDC’s appreciation to the Governor for his ongoing support and sponsorship of efforts to restore Taiz to its rightful position as a productive and resilient governorate. It also acknowledged the technical and institutional support provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the role of the Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC) and its advisory team, the Taiz Chamber of Commerce, and all partners and supporters.
The declaration affirmed the LEDC’s commitment to working professionally and collaboratively to enhance economic recovery, consolidate peace, and promote more inclusive and equitable sustainable local development across the governorate.
During the ceremony, UNDP representative Abdel-Moneim Mustafa praised the establishment of the Local Economic Council through cooperation between the local authority, the private sector, and civil society, alongside active international partnership in support of sustainable development in the governorate. He affirmed that launching the LEDC in Taiz is part of a broader, long-term process supported by UNDP to strengthen institutions and build local capacities, based on the belief in the importance of local leadership for sustainable recovery.
He explained that this process included pioneering initiatives such as the LEDC Enhancement Project, which contributed to a comprehensive diagnostic study of the local economy, institutional and technical capacity building through training programs and specialized workshops and laying a knowledge foundation that supports dialogue and decision-making over the long term.
The LEDC, he added, will serve as a permanent institutional platform to coordinate efforts and translate development plans into actionable implementation frameworks.
The UNDP representative noted that the LEDC represents a qualitative shift from temporary initiatives to sustainable institutional work, and from diagnosis to planning and implementation. He reiterated UNDP’s commitment to continuing technical and knowledge support and mobilizing resources in partnership with the local authority and private and civil sectors to help improve services and expand employment and investment opportunities.
He added that the launch of the Council marks an important step toward more effective governance and broader partnership, reflecting the UN’s vision for building strong Yemeni institutions capable of leading sustainable development in Taiz.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Governorate’s Planning and International Cooperation Office, Nabil Jamil, presented an overview of the institutional framework of the LEDC, established under Governor’s Decision No. (20) of 2025. The Council consists of 16 representatives from the public sector, private sector, and civil society organizations, and functions as an advisory and coordinating body contributing to the formulation of local economic visions and policies.
Jamil reviewed the timeline of the LEDC’s establishment, which began in March 2024 in partnership with UNDP and culminated in the completion of governance systems and the formal launch in December 2025. He also outlined the LEDC’s vision to contribute to comprehensive and sustainable economic recovery, and its mission centered on coordinating efforts, improving the business environment, and stimulating investment.
The presentation also covered the LEDC’s strategic plan for 2026–2028, built around six main strategic directions: improving the business environment, stimulating investment, supporting the knowledge economy, sectoral development of promising sectors, digital transformation, and strengthening partnerships and development finance. It also highlighted the adoption of the 2026 operational plan, which includes forming three sectoral working groups, preparing diagnostic studies on investment constraints, launching an electronic coordination platform, and developing public-private partnership models in education, health, and renewable energy.
For his part, the Executive Manager of the SEMC, Mohammed Esmail, stated that the launch of the LEDC in Taiz — as the first local initiative of its kind in Yemen — is the result of cumulative efforts and joint dialogue among government entities, the private sector, and civil society.
He explained that the initiative took shape over the past period through work to establish a coordinating entity represented by the LEDC, in response to the governorate’s pressing need for economic recovery and for charting a clear economic path that moves beyond relief efforts toward sustainable development.
He added that the Taiz governorate, through establishing the LEDC, is laying the first essential building block for strengthening collaborative work in support of local development — under the sponsorship of the Governor, the Chair of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the chair of LEDC, UNDP, and with active participation from the private sector and executive offices. Efforts have focused on finalizing governance systems, developing the strategic plan, and preparing the 2026 annual operational plans. These efforts, he noted, culminated in the launch of the LEDC as a structured institutional entity with a clear vision and plans, supported by the effective contribution of all partners.