New York, Oct. 3 (SANA) Senior Syrian economic officials met U.S. business and financial representatives in New York to discuss investment opportunities and reforms aimed at reconnecting Syria’s banking sector with the global financial system.
Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh and Central Bank of Syria Governor Mohammad Safwat Raslan attended a Syria-focused roundtable organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at Citibank’s headquarters, Syria’s Finance Ministry said Saturday.
Representatives of U.S. companies and investment, commercial and financial institutions attended the meeting, which covered economic and financial developments in Syria and government measures to facilitate investment and strengthen compliance and integrity standards.
Syrian officials outlined reforms underway at the Finance Ministry and Central Bank, including a new tax policy and incentives for investors.
Participants also discussed potential steps by U.S. companies and reviewed sectors and investment opportunities for American businesses, with a focus on expanding economic and financial cooperation.
The talks followed a separate roundtable hosted by the U.S. Treasury Department in New York with a Syrian central bank delegation headed by Raslan.
The Central Bank said Friday that discussions with Treasury officials focused on rehabilitating Syria’s banking sector and reconnecting it with the global financial system.
Raslan said Syria was not seeking exemptions or special treatment but was working to restore what he described as its natural place in the international financial system.
He said the Central Bank was moving from identifying gaps to implementing measurable measures designed to restore correspondent banking relationships and allow payments to flow through formal channels.
The Syrian delegation outlined efforts to develop electronic payment and transfer systems, strengthen measures against money laundering and terrorist financing, and update the legal and regulatory framework. Officials also reviewed a gap assessment prepared by consulting firm Oliver Wyman.
Separately, the Central Bank delegation met JPMorgan representatives to discuss rebuilding correspondent banking relationships, strengthening international ties and developing international payment channels.
N.J/ABD
