His Excellency Ahmed Hamed Lamlas, Minister of State and Governor of Aden Governorate, inaugurated the Aden Development Conference and Exhibition, held under the theme “Partnership Towards Development (Public Sector, Private Sector, Civil Society Organizations).” The event was attended by Mr. Ali Atef, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, along with undersecretaries and directors general of executive offices, and representatives of international organizations in Aden.

In his address, His Excellency Ahmed Hamed Lamlas, Minister of State and Governor of Aden Governorate, emphasized the importance of establishing a genuine partnership between the public, private, and civil society sectors to achieve comprehensive development. He affirmed that despite the challenging circumstances facing the country, and Aden in particular, the local authority leadership has worked diligently to overcome these challenges and achieve numerous significant accomplishments. Foremost among these is the automation of revenue collection through the establishment of a revenue unit and its connection to the electronic network with various revenue-generating facilities, which has yielded positive results. The governorate leadership has also successfully implemented several self-funded projects and projects supported by international organizations. He further highlighted the importance of the partnership between the local authority and the UNHCR in implementing the largest and most crucial strategic sanitation project in Aden during the post-war period. Governor Lamlas commended the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for infrastructure projects and various service sectors, most notably the rehabilitation and operation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Hospital (formerly Aden Hospital). He also acknowledged the support of the United Arab Emirates in establishing the solar power plant and the Mohammed bin Zayed Medical City, which is currently undergoing final finishing work. He addressed the importance of the five-year plan prepared by the local authority for 2026-2030, expressing his hope that it would be prioritized by supporting organizations in project implementation, given that Aden is the capital of the nation and a major headquarters for many international organizations. He also pointed to the serious repercussions of the situation in Hadramawt Governorate and its impact on the supply of gas and fuel to power plants in Aden.

Speeches were delivered by Mr. Abu Bakr Ba’abid, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Mohammed Hamoud, Director General of Social Affairs; and Ms. Samiha Fadel, Director of the Civil Sector Project and Coordinator of the Participation Platform.

All speakers emphasized the importance of this conference and the creation of a participatory dialogue platform to bring together these sectors and discuss their various issues related to achieving sustainable development for the city of Aden. At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Excellency the Minister of State and Governor of Aden Governorate honored Mr. Ali Jarhoum, Chairman of the General Investment Authority, as well as the sponsors and supporters of the event, and the individuals who contributed to the success of the conference, exhibition, and participation platform. The event was held on December 3, 2025, in the Aden Mall complex.