Syria, World Bank Hold Workshop on Land and Real Estate Development
The Syrian Ministry of Finance, in cooperation with the World Bank, organized a specialized workshop in Damascus focused on the development of the land, property, and real estate financing sectors. The initiative is part of broader state efforts to advance recovery and reconstruction tracks.
Attended by Minister of Finance Mohamed Yassar Bernieh, the workshop addressed critical challenges facing the real estate sector. A primary focus was the loss or damage of real estate records and documents resulting from previous conditions, and the subsequent impact on citizens’ rights to housing, land, and property. Participants discussed mechanisms to address these issues to ensure the restoration of accurate real estate records and the protection of individual property rights.
Furthermore, the workshop examined ways to improve information exchange and electronic connectivity between relevant government institutions. The goal is to ensure data comprehensiveness and standardize ownership documentation, which would facilitate legal and administrative procedures.
A wide range of stakeholders participated in the event, including the ministries of Local Administration and Environment, Public Works and Housing, and Justice. Representatives from the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, the Real Estate Finance Supervisory Authority, the Central Bank of Syria, and the Directorate of Real Estate Affairs were also present. This broad participation aims to coordinate national efforts to formulate practical solutions that account for the specific nature of property files in Syria.
Technically, participants reviewed international experiences and global best practices that could be leveraged to protect land records, expand real estate registration, and utilize digital solutions for archiving documents. Discussions also covered mechanisms for strengthening tenure rights and addressing cases involving compensation and restrictions on land. These efforts are part of a larger plan to rebuild the real estate registry electronically in support of comprehensive reconstruction strategies.
This workshop is part of a series of technical coordination sessions between the Ministry of Finance and the World Bank’s expert mission. It follows a specialized workshop held in late September regarding the fundamental principles of public debt sustainability analysis. These activities reflect an ongoing trend toward developing public financial management tools in Syria through the utilization of international expertise and technical mechanisms.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
