SALAH AL-ATTAR, KINGPIN OR KING PAWN?

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001826 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2017 TAGS: ECON EINV PGOV PREL PINR YM SUBJECT: SALAH AL-ATTAR, KINGPIN OR KING PAWN? REF: SANAA 01245 Classified By: Ambassador Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador's first meeting with new General Investment Authority (GIA) Chairman Salah Al-Attar revealed a western educated, energetic young man eager to address Yemen's problems by narrowing the rich-poor gap, thereby reducing the lure of extremism and making Yemen more attractive to foreign investors. END SUMMARY. -------------- Son of Yemen, Man of the World -------------- ¶2. (C) New General Investment Authority (GIA) Chairman Salah Al-Attar is not well known to the Embassy. The son of Former Prime Minister Mohammed Saeed Al-Attar, Salah Al-Attar was born on October 16, 1975. Al-Attar spent most of his life abroad in Lebanon, the US, Switzerland and the UK. He received his BS in Political Science and International relations from New York University in 1996. He has two MBA degrees: one from the International School of Management in Paris, France (1997) and one from the University of Sarasota, Florida (1998). Al-Attar is married and has one son, Ryan. Al-Attar served previously as the Head of Investment Promotion at the GIA but left that position for a successful career abroad in the private sector with multinational British American Tobacco. He was appointed to his current post at the GIA in February 2007. Al-Attar's father is a friend of President Saleh and Al-Attar himself is a friend of President Saleh's son, BG Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh. These connections may have influenced his appointment. ¶3. (C) During their initial meeting on September 16, the Ambassador commended Al-Attar on his decision to return to Yemen and serve in the government, leaving behind private sector success and opportunities in the international arena. Al-Attar said that he believed that it was his duty to return to Yemen to try to create "networks and opportunities for business" in Yemen. He cited the influence of his western education and said that he does not want Yemen to become a country where conservatism is the "rule of the game." Al-Attar and the Ambassador agreed on the importance of narrowing the gap between rich and poor Yemenis and of limiting the ability of extremism to take root in Yemen and the region. He told the Ambassador the he hopes to make a real difference for Yemen in the GIA. Comment: Perhaps in an ;effort to highlight his distance from conservatism, when the Ambassador wished Al-Attar Ramadan Karim (Happy Ramadan) Al-Attar replied, "Thank you even though I do not fast." End Comment. -------------- GIA, One Stop Shop for Investment -------------- ¶4. (C) The GIA was established in March 1992 by Investment Law No. 22 in 1991 as the sole competent ROYG authority in charge of regulating and promoting investment in Yemen, acting as a "One Stop Shop." All ROYG offices concerned with investment have offices at the GIA Headquarters building and are represented on its Board of Directors. Al-Attar explained to the Ambassador that he reports directly to the Prime Minister, who chairs the Board of Directors of the GIA. The Board also includes the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of Industry and Trade, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources, Minister of Finance, Governor of the Central Bank of Yemen, Chairman of the General Federation of Chambers of Commerce, the Chairman of the GIA and a repertoire from the GIA. The Board acts to formulate investment policy and approves the plans, proposed draft laws, and programs formulated by the GIA. ¶5. (C) Al-Attar told the Ambassador that he believes that the ROYG is serious about the need for concrete action to create economic opportunity in Yemen and understands that attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) requires reforms to bring the country's commercial laws in line with international best practice standards and to open up the economy. Al-Attar opined that since the tragedy of 9/11, investors from the GCC and China have been looking for places outside of the US to invest. He hopes that, with adequate reform and safeguards in place, Yemen will attract GCC and Chinese FDI. Al-Attar also said that he would very much like to see a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between Yemen and the US. NOTE: Post will arrange an introductory meeting between the GIA and USTR to explain to Al-Attar the requirements and process involved in reaching a BIT. END NOTE. -------------- Star Chamber, Yemen Style -------------- ¶6. (C) During the Ambassador's earlier meeting (reftel) with BG Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh (son of the president),Saleh suggested that the Ambassador meet Al-Attar in the context of discussing work that the BG performs as a member of a recently established committee he called the National Investment Authority, which Al-Attar chairs. NOTE: Post is preparing a separate cable on this new committee. END NOTE. The Ambassador asked Al-Attar about the committee. Al-Attar called it the "Investment Advisory Council." He told the Ambassador that President Saleh oversees the Committee and that they hope to act as a think tank and whistle blower. The Committee will review the legislative framework and incentives to attract FDI in Yemen, acting as policy advocates. Al-Attar said that so far the committee membership consists of a small number of public sector people. He said they had discussed including private sector input, but had ultimately decided that inclusion of representatives of the private sector on the committee would reinforce the power of Yemen's perceived private sector oligarchies. He said that the committee wants to be seen as transparent. If the private sector was included, the perception would be that the committee is looking out for the interests of the private sector members. Ironically, Al-Attar said that they would like to work "step by step" with the Embassy Economic Section to shepherd a US company through a major investment in Yemen to create a US-Yemen private sector "success story." Comment: Post CommOff and EconOff are familiar with this "we can protect US business" rhetoric and will continue to push the message that economic and trade-related reforms are the best avenue to create the opportunity for US-Yemen private sector success stories. End COMMENT. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) Al-Attar is a young, bright and energetic man with international experience that should serve the ROYG well as it moves toward greater reforms to attract foreign direct investment. He seems genuinely excited by and up to the challenges and opportunities of his new position. He sees narrowing the gap between rich and poor as a means of curtailing the lure of extremism and creating greater stability in Yemen and the region. His candor about the new committee he chairs is also encouraging. As post continues to gather information on this new committee, we will pay particular attention to how such an endeavor may affect the Mission's goals of encouraging democratic participation, transparency and representation in the public sector. END COMMENT SECHE