Damascus, Feb.18 (SANA) Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh discussed priorities for technical support to public finances with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission on Tuesday, alongside talks with the UN Resident Coordinator on strengthening cooperation in recovery and development initiatives.
The Ministry of Finance stated, in a post on its Telegram channel, that Barnieh met an IMF delegation headed by Ron van Rooden in Damascus to review economic and financial developments and identify areas where the Fund’s analytical and technical support could add value.
The discussions covered preliminary results of the 2025 state budget and macroeconomic and fiscal projections for 2026. Barnieh outlined key features of the 2026 draft budget, including financing assumptions and fiscal policy priorities.
Both sides reviewed fiscal risks and existing oversight mechanisms, revenue trends and their implications for financial sustainability, as well as financing plans for the coming period and the balance between domestic and external sources and associated risks.
The talks also addressed the ministry’s medium-term strategy and ongoing fiscal reform plans, focusing on strengthening public financial management, enhancing fiscal discipline and improving revenue mobilization. Developments related to public debt and initial considerations on debt sustainability were also discussed.
The ministry said priority areas were identified for training and capacity-building, particularly in budget preparation, debt management and revenue administration. The two sides agreed to maintain coordination and dialogue on policy priorities and reform implementation.
In a separate meeting, Minister Barnieh met with UN Resident Coordinator for Development Activities in Syria Nathalie Fustier to discuss enhancing cooperation under the “Syria Without Camps” initiative.
The talks included a proposal to establish a national disaster recovery fund to ensure a rapid financial response, with UN agencies expressing readiness to support and contribute to the initiative.
Barnieh stressed the need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of UN interventions and to maximize their developmental impact, in line with efforts to launch sustainable recovery initiatives aimed at improving living conditions and strengthening social stability.
The meetings come as part of ongoing coordination between Syria and international institutions to support financial reform, strengthen public finance management and advance recovery and development efforts, particularly amid plans to launch sustainable initiatives aimed at improving living conditions and reinforcing social stability.
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