Syrian Delegation to Attend IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings
Syrian ministers and the Central Bank Governor are set to participate in the upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank’s spring meetings in Washington next week, as sources have confirmed. The focus of the meetings will be on discussing strategies for rebuilding Syria’s economy after years of conflict.
The delegation from Syria will include Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh, Central Bank Governor Abdul Qadir al-Hasriya, and Economy Minister Mohammed al-Shaar. Their primary agenda will revolve around post-war reconstruction and economic recovery.
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Since the removal of Bashar al-Assad from power, Syria’s new government is striving to establish ties with international organizations to facilitate the country’s reconstruction and economic revival. They are also advocating for the lifting of sanctions that were imposed during Assad’s regime.
During the civil war, the World Bank ceased its operations in Syria. A UN report estimated that Syria suffered a loss of $800 billion in GDP from 2011 to 2024, leading to a significant portion of the population struggling to meet basic needs.
In a recent meeting in Damascus, Finance Minister Barnieh engaged with a World Bank delegation to explore opportunities for modernizing Syria’s banking sector. He underscored Syria’s eagerness to enhance economic collaboration with the World Bank and highlighted the adverse effects of Western sanctions on the country’s financial system.
