The Cabinet: Restoring economic and developmental activity in the governorates

The Cabinet has started a review plan for economic and service projects that were approved during government visits to the governorates in addition to local projects with the aim of resuming economic and development activity in all governorates.

The Cabinet started its plan by reviewing the situation of the projects in the governorates of Damascus, Lattakia, Daraa and Tartous, and decided to restore economic and public activity in the governorates, and to complete government projects whose implementation rate had already reached ninety percent, and to also implement priority projects that were previously initiated as soon as possible.

In its weekly session on May 3, headed by the Prime MinisterEng. Imad Khamis, the Cabinet asked the heads of ministerial committees in the governorates to prepare a list of projects that must be followed up on their implementation in the context of gradually restoring economic activity.

The Cabinet reviewed the Ministry of Health’s plan to address the Coronavirus, the numbers of infections, recovered cases, centers of quarantine and isolation, and a plan to receive citizens returning from abroad in addition to the Ministry of Interior plan to implement the curfew.

The Cabinet stressed the necessity of strict adherence by all professions and markets to preventive measures and adherence to the Ministry of Health guidelines to avoid the spread of the epidemic and to all follow the highest levels of care and responsibility at the personal and domestic levels and within the social and work areas to avoid any spread of the virus.

The night curfew continues to be imposed from seven in the evening until six in the morning the following day until further notice

It was emphasized that the night curfew will continue to be imposed from seven in the evening until six in the morning the following day until further notice, with strict enforcement of the prohibition measures, in addition to the continuing prohibition of movements between governorates.

The Cabinet asked the Ministry of Higher Education to laydown a plan to re-open universities and compensate for educational losses during a specific time period and to set the date for university examinations to take into account health safety requirements. The Ministries of Health and Higher Education were also requested to continue providing health services to citizens, especially surgical operations in hospitals and public health centers.

The Cabinet approved the plan of the Ministry of Local Administration to establish popular markets in the governorates and the main city centers and regions. 75 popular markets have been completed  in 58 administrative units in all governorates to sell agricultural and crafts products from producers to consumer.

In a statement to reporters after the session, Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Dr. Muhammad Samer Al-Khalil, Chairman of the Ministerial Committee in charge of tracking the implementation of service and development projects in the Daraa Governorate, talked about  the projects that were implemented and the difficulties facing other projects in addition to discussing the idea of establishing an industrial city that encourages attracting different investments and creating job opportunities for the people of the region.

The Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Eng. Ahmed Al-Qadri, Chairman of the Ministerial Committee in charge of tracking the implementation of service and development projects in the Damascus Countryside governorate, indicated that a focus was placed on activating the economic process and activities in cities and industrial areas in Damascus Countryside.

Minister of Transport, Engineer Ali Hammoud, Chairman of the Ministerial Committee in charge of tracking the implementation of service and development projects in Tartous Governorate, talked about the 74 projects , with 95billion SP cost, in Tartous.

Minister of Local Administration and Environment Eng. Hussein Makhlouf, Chairman of the Ministerial Committee in charge of tracking the implementation of service and development projects in Latakia governorate, pointed out that the projects implemented in the governorate amounted to 32 projects worth 12 billion Syrian pounds while the projects in progress amounted to 35 projects valued at 62 billion pounds, the most important of which are industrial and craft areas, in addition to the development and road projects and the JablehHospital project.

O. al-Mohammad