Damascus-SANA
Minister of Industry Ziad Sabbagh stressed the constant endeavor to overcome the obstacles facing the industrial sector through procedures and decisions that are in the interest of this sector and to develop its production capabilities in quantity and quality to achieve the adequacy of the local market and export to foreign markets.
During his meeting with the board of directors of the Damascus Chamber of Industry and a number of textile and clothing manufacturers, Minister Sabbagh explained that the decision of the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade No. 790 regarding allowing the import of knitted fabrics was based on studies and data and after in-depth meetings with all concerned parties and in a manner that takes into account the interests of all production circles working in this field. He pointed out that the decision is subject to amendment according to the new data and in partnership with the industrialists to take the decision.
The Minister of Industry indicated that all ambiguous aspects of Resolution 790 will be clarified by the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade through executive instructions to the authorities that will implement the decision on the ground.
Minister Sabbagh indicated that the indicative prices committee in the Ministry of Economy will meet within days to study the prices of raw materials used in the industry and adjust them in proportion to the protection of local products. Decisions must take into account these changes.
The minister asked the chamber's board of directors to prepare a list of the requests, concerns and proposals put forward by the industrialists in a detailed memorandum to be discussed in the presence of the heads of the chambers and the Federation of Chambers of Industry and with the relevant ministries.
The demands of the industrialists during the meeting focused on the need to classify the types of fabrics more clearly, exempt fabrics that are not manufactured locally from customs duties, secure fuel, determine the mechanism for the presence of representatives of the chambers of industry with customs during the implementation of decisions, and secure the needs of establishments that are unable to import fabrics directly.
For his part, the head of the Chamber of Industry of Damascus and its countryside, Samer Al-Debs, confirmed that Resolution 790 protects the textile industries in all its aspects, especially the clothing industry, as it is a large and developed industry that needs raw materials and part of it is produced entirely locally, indicating that the garment manufacturers do not want to import their needs of fabrics from abroad, but rather prefer to buy them from Local factories that must be protected and supported in order to enhance their contribution to the national economy.
Ahmed Suleiman and Tariq Al-Sayed
