Washington, April 19 (SANA) Syria’s finance minister and central bank governor held talks with international financial institutions on steps to support reforms and develop the country’s financial and banking sectors.
Finance Minister Mohammed Yasser Barnieh and Central Bank Governor Abdulkader Husrieh met officials from the International Monetary Fund’s Monetary and Capital Markets Department to discuss technical assistance and capacity-building programs, the Finance Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
The discussions, held on the sidelines of the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, focused on strengthening central bank policies, enhancing supervisory capabilities, and improving oversight in the insurance sector.
The talks also covered support for developing Syria’s capital markets and building the Finance Ministry’s capacity to issue treasury bonds and sukuk, aimed at improving liquidity management and monetary operations.
In separate meetings, the two officials met IMF Middle East and Central Asia Director Jihad Azour to review cooperation with the Fund, including efforts to improve economic statistics, particularly external sector data and balance of payments indicators.
They also held discussions with World Bank Vice President for Development Finance Akihiko Nishio and officials from the International Development Association on Syria’s financing needs and mechanisms for accessing concessional funding.
The IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings, held in Washington from April 13 to 18, bring together policymakers, private sector representatives and civil society to discuss the global economic outlook, development challenges and financial stability.
N.J/ ABD
