Cabinet Sets Preliminary State Budget at SYP 2,660 billion

DAMASCUS – The Cabinet continued in its weekly session under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Imad Khamis discussing the draft state budget for 2017 in both its running and investment sides in preparation for its final approval.

The Cabinet set the preliminary sum of the state budget at SYP 2660 billion which are distributed as SYP 1,982 billion for running expenditures and SYP 678 billion for investment expenditures, with sums dedicated to social support set at SYP 423 billion, according to SANA.

 The Cabinet tasked the Ministries of Local Administration and Environment, Social Affairs and Labor, and Tourism along with the Investment Agency with drafting a mechanism to establish real development in impoverished and active rural areas and create jobs according to the needs of each area or village.

The Ministers also discussed the possibility of establishing a company specialized in exportation from the public and private sectors.

The Cabinet approved a draft law amending some provisions of legislative decree No.35 for 2015 on illegal drawing of energy, in addition to approving a draft law amending some provisions of law No. 26 for 2007 on regulating plant quarantine.