Finance Minister Finance Minister, Mohammed Yisr Barnieh stated that Syria’s participation in the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund IMF and World Bank in Washington, aims at transforming world attention into investments and programs that serves the economic recovery.
In an interview with local Al-Ikhbariyah TV, Barnieh explained that Syria’s participation in these meetings reflects the country’s increasing importance in international forums. He pointed out that this momentum extends from the success of President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to New York, which drew wide regional and international attention to Syria.
He noted that the Arab Coordination Group, which includes 10 Arab institutions and funds-among them the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Islamic Development Bank, the Kuwait Fund, the Qatar Fund, and the Arab Monetary Fund, have shown great willingness to support the reconstruction process in Syria.
The minister revealed that a meeting is scheduled for the beginning of December, organized by the Arab Coordination Group to discuss priority development projects in Syria, particularly in infrastructure, human development, capacity building, and training. He expressed optimism about the major role Arab institutions are expected to play starting next year.
Minister Barnieh stated that meetings with the President of the World Bank Group and the Managing Director of the IMF confirmed the importance of increasing support for Syria, noting that a package of programs is being prepared, including technical assistance and capacity-building in the sectors of public finance, health, education, energy, and infrastructure. The programs will focus on strengthening the roles of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) to encourage the private sector and investors.
He stated that the meeting with the U.S. Treasury Department was of great importance, as the American side showed understanding and readiness to provide the necessary support to address the financial and banking challenges in Syria, which enhances the prospects for cooperation in the coming stage.
