Damascus-Sana
Despite the conditions that the country is going through from unilateral coercive measures and the impact of the Corona pandemic, the pace of work and investment in the industrial sector has been described as good as a result of the facilities and measures taken by the government in this context, as 1066 craft, industrial and investment establishments entered into operation and production during the year 2020 with a capital of 62.627 billion Syrian pounds provided 4,849 job opportunities.
The Industrial Investment Directorate at the Ministry of Industry stated in its report for the past year 2020, which SANA obtained a copy of, that there is an increase in the number of implemented establishments compared to 2019, which recorded the implementation of 112 establishments with a capital of 75.2 billion pounds and provided 4988 job opportunities.
In terms of licensing, the report showed that the directorates of industry in the provinces licensed 2852 craft, industrial and investment establishments with a capital of 891.773 billion pounds last year, which will provide about 25,904 job opportunities when they enter production, with a significant increase over the year 2019, which registered the licensing of 779 industrial and investment establishments with a capital of 270.867 billion pounds.
According to the report, Aleppo governorate had the highest number of licensed facilities with 1216 establishments, then Rural Damascus with 850, followed by Hama 192, then Damascus 131, Homs 113, Daraa 107, and Tartous 78, Latakia 77, Quneitra 29, Sweida 20, Deir Ezzor 18 and Hasaka with only one.
Regarding the industrial establishments implemented according to Investment Law No. 8, the Directorate stated that 17 establishments were implemented with a capital of 24.924 billion pounds and provided 427 job opportunities, including 8 food, 7 chemical and 2 engineering establishments, distributed in Quneitra with 4 establishments, Damascus countryside 3 and Adra Industrial 3, and the rest in the other governorates. Licensing 17 establishments with a capital of 720.5 billion pounds that operate at the time of their entry into production of 3177 workers in the various industrial sectors, where the countryside of Damascus received the largest share with 8 establishments and the other establishments were distributed over the rest of the governorates.
The report referred to the legislative decrees issued last year and contributed to the support of the industrial sector, including Decree No. 10, which exempts raw materials from all taxes and other fees imposed on import, and Legislative Decree No. 14, which exempts production requirements and raw materials used in the manufacture of human medicines from customs duties and from all taxes and fees. Other imposed on import.
The report pointed to government decisions that were also issued in the same context, including decisions to exempt industrial companies in hot areas from tax and fines for services provided by administrative units and to allow the import of raw materials needed for the manufacture of sterilizers and detergents and raw silicon material for industrial establishments operating in the field of production and packaging of this material. And granting support incentives for export-oriented industrial production and many other decisions related to providing financing and subsidizing interest rates for materials included in the import substitution program.
Ahmed Souliman
