Industry Minister: Plans for current stage focus on preserving operational establishments

Damascus, SANA – Industry Minister Kamal Eddin Tu’meh said that the Ministry’s plans for the current stage focus on preserving operational establishments and rehabilitating the ones that were damaged partially so that they can resume production.

In a press conference on Saturday to detail the Ministry’s plans and vision for the current and future stages, the Tu’meh said that these plans would be carried out using available resources and governmental support, adding that priority will be given to textiles, architectural, food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries.

He said that 27 establishments are currently operational and undamaged, and that the requirements for keeping them operation are being procured by the Ministry, as for the43 establishment that have stopped operations completely due to terrorism, he said they will be addressed at a later time as they require considerable investments and some of them need to undergo reassessment.

The Minister stressed the need to develop technological capacities and benefit from the experience of the private sector, noting that the Ministry evaluates its establishments’ performance periodically and makes decisions based on those assessments.

He said that Barada Metalwork Company will resume production once renovations are done, and that the smelting factory at Hama Iron Factory will become operational as well, adding that work is underway on the industrial map for repositioning factories.

Prior to the crisis in Syria, the industrial sector contribution to the GDP was around 13%, but it dropped to less than 8% as the number of operational factories dropped around 40%, while production in other factories stalled due to shortages in raw materials and energy and the lack of safe transportation routes due to the unjust sanctions imposed on Syria and to terrorist activities.

Hazem Sabbagh

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