Damascus, April 24 (SANA) Finance Minister Mohammad Yisr Barnieh said on Friday that a $225 million grant approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors for Syria, through the International Development Association, aims to support efforts to improve public service delivery in the water and health sectors.
Barnieh said in a Facebook post on Friday that $150 million has been allocated to the water sector and $75 million to the health sector, noting that the two projects are the third and fourth approved by the World Bank in less than a year, following initiatives that included developing the electricity network and strengthening public financial management.
“We view this growing and productive cooperation between the Syrian government and the World Bank with optimism, as it reflects a shared will to advance reform and development paths,” Barnieh said, pointing to plans to launch additional grant-funded projects in vital areas, including the financial and banking sector, education, and social protection.
He affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the successful implementation of these projects and strengthening financial discipline, enabling Syria to increase its share of grants and concessional financing. Barnieh added that these developments indicate accelerating integration into international development frameworks, paving the way for sustainable recovery and long-term economic growth.
The minister had earlier said on March 12 that a $20 million grant approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors for Syria marked a new phase in relations with the World Bank Group after decades of interruption.
M.Q.R
