Syria is entering a new phase of economic recovery, with sanctions relief, renewed regional engagement and investment commitments creating opportunities across key sectors. Oxford Business Group has launched The Report: Syria 2026, which examines the challenges and prospects of rebuilding an economy after over a decade of internal conflict. The publication explores developments in energy infrastructure,
Interview: Mohammed Yisr Barnieh, Minister of Finance, on rebuilding trust, driving reform and fostering growth How much has the Ministry of Finance changed since your arrival in 2025? MOHAMMED YISR BARNIEH: The transformation of the ministry has been guided by a clear institutional vision. The Ministry of Finance Strategy 2026-30 was introduced around three strategic pillars: improving public finances,…
Interview: Abdulkader AlHussrieh, Ambassador and former Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, on developing a functioning interbank market and deepening intermediation In which ways are economic relations between Syria and North America developing? ABDULKADER ALHUSSRIEH: Syria’s economic relationship with the United States is evolving from one of limited engagement and financial isolation into…
Interview: Ahmad Jamal Zidan, General Manager, Arab Bank Syria, on adopting policies centred on stability and economic recovery How will banks recalibrate foreign exchange (FX) pricing and liquidity management after the pound partially retracted from its April 2025 peak? AHMAD JAMAL ZIDAN: The FX market is clearly shifting towards more market-driven pricing. Banks have already begun adapting their…
Interview: Mohamed Haykal, Chairman of Haykal Group, on navigating an economic reawakening and emerging potential What makes this reconstruction period an especially important moment for economic and social development in Syria? MOHAMED HAYKAL: As Syria emerges from a long period of dictatorship and lawlessness to rejoin the free world, it is undergoing a profound transformation. I have returned…
Interview: Mohammed Al Shaar, Minister of Economy and Industry, on balancing financial recovery with new production models By what means should the country balance the restoration of pre-war industries with the development of new areas of economic activity? MOHAMMED AL SHAAR: Reconstruction cannot be limited to restoring the production systems that existed before the conflict. Syria has missed approximately…
Syria’s next phase will not be measured only by the cranes above our cities or the agreements we sign. It will be measured by whether citizens experience the return of a government that serves them: through roads, schools, hospitals, secure work and homes in which families are able to plan their future. After years in which war damaged institutions as well as infrastructure, it is essential that…
Syria has entered a new phase of international economic re-engagement and early recovery. The defining challenge is now to convert the political momentum achieved since 2024 into investment-ready projects capable of delivering long-term economic value. The opportunity is considerable. The World Bank estimates the cost of reconstructing Syria’s damaged assets at $216bn, including $82bn for infrastructure,…
Food-delivery platforms have evolved internationally from simple ordering services into integrated digital ecosystems connecting consumers, merchants, couriers, payment providers and logistics networks. Their expansion depends on factors including digital connectivity, consumer adoption, operational efficiency and the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders. In Syria, the development of such platforms…
Syria is entering a new phase after more than 14 years of conflict and the end of Bashar Al Assad’s rule in December 2024. The political transition that followed has created the prospect of rebuilding government institutions, restoring economic links with international markets, and addressing the extensive physical and human damage caused by the war. The scale of the task is considerable, however.…
