ISLAMABAD, April 12: Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Wednesday said Yemen would facilitate Pakistani businessmen in establishment of factories to increase the current level of cooperation between the two countries.

He was addressing the businessmen and traders in a local hotel here.

He said that Pakistani business community could use Yemen as gateway for its exports to Eritrea, Djubuti, Kenya, Somalia and other countries.

He said that Yemen has free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan, China, and Pakistani business community could benefit from it.

He invited the Pakistani traders to invest in Yemen. He informed that they would provide maximum facilities to the investors. Similarly, Yemeni was free to invest in Pakistan or do joint venture here.

The president briefed the traders about the trade agreements signed with the Pakistan government. He said Pakistan had progressed in manufacturing of defence products and they would benefit from it.

He said that special measures should be taken to increase trade between Muslim countries. Pakistan shall have to play its role in this direction.