صندوق النقد: ثناء على دمشق لالتزامها بسياساتها ومؤشرات تعافٍ

Following a visit to Damascus from November 10 to 13, 2025, headed by Ron van Rooden, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team concluded that the Syrian economy has begun to show signs of recovery and future improvement. The team attributed this to improved consumer and investor confidence, the gradual integration of Syria into the regional and global economies with the lifting of sanctions, the return of more than one million refugees, and the authorities’ adoption of a strict fiscal and monetary policy aimed at achieving economic and financial stability.

Discussions focused on preparing the 2026 budget, with the aim of providing greater fiscal space to meet basic needs, especially in the social sectors and support for the most vulnerable groups, based on realistic revenue and financing assumptions. In this context, the Fund’s experts will provide technical assistance to strengthen public financial management and improve revenue management, complete new tax legislation, and develop a strategy to address and manage old debts efficiently. Emphasis will be placed on a simple and competitive tax system that limits exemptions and evasion, and adherence to good governance standards while restructuring state-owned enterprises and expanding investment partnerships with the private sector.

The delegation also began discussions on an appropriate monetary policy framework to ensure lower and stable inflation, while supporting the financial system. The Fund will assist the authorities in preparing a new financial sector law and accompanying regulations, and rehabilitating payment systems and banking services to enable the financial system to facilitate payments and finance economic activity, in addition to rebuilding the central bank’s capabilities to enable it to implement monetary policy and supervise the financial sector effectively.

The statement pointed to the scarcity of reliable economic data in Syria, despite its importance in formulating, implementing and monitoring economic policies. Therefore, technical support will focus on improving statistics, starting from national accounts to price statistics, balance of payments, government finance and financial statistics, with the aim of paving the way for the resumption of Article IV consultations with Syria after it was last suspended in 2009. The mission concluded by emphasizing the IMF’s commitment to supporting the Syrian authorities in rehabilitating the economy and its key institutions, by developing detailed reform roadmaps for the financial and banking sectors, and strengthening coordination with development partners. (CNBC)