HCESP:Investment Expenditure, Agricultural and Industrial Production is a Priority

Damascus, (ST) – The Higher Council for Economic and Social Planning (HCESP)underlined yesterday in its session chaired by Prime Minister, Imad Khamis, the continuation of the government’s plan for social support and focusing investment expenditure on production sector especially industry and agriculture.

Participants stressed on giving priority to import items of basic needs and raw materials and projects which produce items needed in the reconstruction stage, particularly cement, iron, glass, and other building materials.

Regarding increasing the state’s positive intervention in the markets, the Council concentrated on the projects of horizontal expansion of positive intervention establishments, the rehabilitation of infrastructure, and to set the allocations of Electricity Ministry to continue the production and distribution of electric power, in addition to directing the investments of Transport Ministry to improve the flow of transport and increase the productive capacity of the Syrian ports.

As for the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, investments were directed towards increasing oil and gas production in the central and southern areas, improving gas and fuel filling facilities, as well as directing the allocations of Local Administration and Environment Ministry to improving the level of public services such as water, sanitations, internal transport, and setting the necessary credits for the rehabilitation of infrastructure of industrial zones.

The Premier, Khamis, affirmed the importance of the meeting to follow up on the government’s procedures and plans that have been prepared for the current year and to review the mechanisms of expenditure according to daily fluctuations, noting that the plan was mapped out under war circumstances.

Eng. Khamis noted that the Council should take its role in the current circumstances and work through the unsteadiness imposed by the war on Syria in various sectors, explaining the importance of concordbetween resources and needs to access a balance of the solid reality.

Mr. Khamis asked each Ministry to implement the mechanism of action to achieve development with all its addresses including agriculture, industry and services, adding that “Each ministry should form a special work team to define the accuracy of figures and statements issued by the institutions related to the budget and the soundness of their use in accordance with the government plan.Thus, he added, the ministry can proceed with an economic and investment development plan and the ongoing coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Planning and International Cooperation Authority.”

The Premier pointed to the need to form a working group headed by the Chairman of the Planning and International Cooperation Authority to identify the gaps and the positive aspects of public spending and budget.

Sh. Kh.