People’s Assembly discusses economic situation in Syria, obstacles hindering economic development

The current situation of the national economy and the elements that affected it during the past years were the main theme of the People’s Assembly’s session on Thursday.

Minister of Economy and Foreign Tarde Mohammad Samer Al-Khalil reviewed Syria’s economic situation in general and the changes that occurred in this situation during the years of the war on Syria and during the pre-war period.

He explained the grave consequences of the unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Syrian people and the repercussions of the so-called “Caesar Act”, COVID-19, the Ukrainian crisis and the sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation which have affected the entire world in terms of food and energy.

Al-Khalil reviewed the Syrian government’s vision and the measures it has taken to alleviate the disastrous impacts of these developments on the Syrian citizens’ living conditions and the service situation.

The minister clarified that these factors have greatly affected agriculture, industry, investment, tourism and the oil sector in the country and caused a huge increase in the cost of locally-produced goods, due to the global increase in the prices of imported raw materials and transportation services and due to the unstable exchange rate and the scarcity in energy sources and oil derivatives that mainly affected the electricity sector.

The minister affirmed that among the priorities of the government’s work is to increase the imports of oil derivatives and rationalizing fuel consumption in a way that guarantees the work of vital facilities such as hospitals, bakeries and communication networks.

Hamda Mustafa