Syria Discusses Economic Recovery Priorities with Development Partners
Syrian Minister of Finance Mohammad Yassar Bernieh led a roundtable discussion with international development partners and financial institutions to coordinate priorities for the country’s economic recovery. The meeting was attended by Central Bank of Syria Governor Safwan Raslan and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.
The discussions focused on identifying strategies to enhance international cooperation and coordination to support the next phase of reconstruction and sustainable growth. The Syrian delegation presented the government’s national vision for recovery, which emphasizes the restoration of essential services and the rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged during recent years.
Key components of this vision include improving the efficiency of public institutions and advancing reform programs within the public finance and financial sectors. Furthermore, the government aims to foster a more attractive investment climate to encourage increased private sector participation in the nation’s development efforts.
During the deliberations, Syrian officials stressed that all international cooperation must remain aligned with national priorities. The government underscored its commitment to maintaining ownership of the recovery process, ensuring that available resources are directed toward the most urgent projects to achieve tangible improvements in the economic and living conditions of the population. The participants also explored mechanisms for enhancing collaboration through technical support, economic and investment partnerships, and coordinated financing to bolster institutional capacity and accelerate the pace of reform.
As part of these coordination efforts, the Syrian side discussed a proposal with development partners and the World Bank to establish a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF). This fund is intended to harmonize partner contributions with national priorities while maintaining high standards of transparency, social inclusion, financial oversight, and project quality control.
Concluding the workshop, the Syrian delegation highlighted the importance of sustaining an open dialogue with development partners regarding available funding and support instruments. They emphasized the need to translate areas of mutual understanding into practical, actionable programs that support the Syrian economy, improve service delivery, and drive investment growth.
In a related context, Finance Minister Bernieh and Central Bank Governor Raslan held a separate meeting with Catriona Purfield, Director of the IMF’s Institute for Capacity Development. The meeting explored ways to strengthen the capabilities of Syrian institutions in sound economic management and discussed new training programs and institutional capacity-building for national personnel, tailored to the requirements of the coming period.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
