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 models to reflect real supply and demand dynamics rather…
On turning capacity into opportunity How do you assess the strength of current state the aluminium manufacturing sector? HASSAN DAABOUL: There is a relatively large installed capacity for aluminium production, much of which has been idle for over a decade. With stability returning, these facilities have begun to resume operations. The country enters this phase with a solid industrial base; what…
On ways to attract capital and accelerate recovery and production plans Which factors should be weighed in determining where limited public investment should be targeted for humanitarian assistance in 2025? MOHAMMAD SAFWAT RASLAN: The first priority is to focus on projects that directly affect daily life: electricity, water, transport access and other basic infrastructure. Much of this infrastructure…
On reinforcing investor confidence by developing a functioning interbank market and deepening financial intermediation To what extent are international precedents and multilateral guidance informing Syria’s reform roadmap and the sequencing of structural changes? ABDULKADER ALHUSSRIEH:We are learning from international experiences and being advised on implementation by the IMF. These…
On unlocking telecoms potential through infrastructure upgrades and strategic investment What network upgrades are realistic near term, and how vital is co-investment to deliver them? MURID ATASSI: Between 2025 and 2030, we aim to double the nationwide site count, currently at around 4500 radio sites. Achieving acceptable coverage and performance across the country would require sector-wide…
On rebuilding trust, driving reform and fostering growth How much has the Ministry of Finance changed since your arrival earlier in 2025? MOHAMMED YISR BARNIEH: We are committed to rebuilding trust between the ministry, the private sector and society. When I arrived, we faced a deteriorating financial environment, weak institutions and a system of corruption and bureaucracy. My first initiative…
On fibre transit and market reopening What timeline and financing model will underpin the SilkLink backbone, and what impact will it have? ABDUL SALAM HAYKAL: SilkLink, the government’s project to make Syria a regional internet centre, is designed both to modernise our domestic backbone and to provide a route for traffic between Europe and Asia. Structurally, it has two parts. One is a nationwide…
On navigating an economic reawakening and emerging potential What makes this period an especially important moment for economic and social development? 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 many times since what most Syrians refer to as the liberation. During these…
