Damascus-Sana
The Cabinet conducted an evaluation and review of the current economic reality and the extent to which the implementation of decisions on this reality is reflected in the sectors of import and export, financial and monetary policy, market movement, withdrawal and deposit, in light of the changes imposed by war and unilateral coercive economic measures imposed on the Syrian people.
After extensive discussions, the Council approved in its weekly session today, headed by Eng. Imad Khamis, the Prime Minister, a number of decisions aimed at strengthening the national economy, including the exemption from import supplies, the study of exempting export products from non-customs duties by 100 percent, providing exemptions for importing fodder and calves for the purpose of fattening, and studying the exemption of imports from Non-tariff fees of 1 percent for a year and instruct the Ministry of Finance to find alternatives to compensate public authorities for their allocations from these fees.
The Ministry of Interior and Justice and the Central Bank of Syria were asked to set executive instructions for the implementation of Legislative Decree 3 and 4 of 2020 on penalties for dealers other than the Syrian pound and a specific mechanism to follow up their implementation accurately.
The Council decided to increase food aid for the military by 33 percent, and to study this increase in the next stage.
The Minister of Administrative Development, Dr. Salam Al-Safaf gave a presentation on the stages of work in the national project for administrative reform, and the ministry’s plan was approved to ensure the readiness of development directorates in the central departments and the formation of work teams in the ministries with specializations to start implementing the project and implement specialized training for it and conduct an analysis of the organizational structure and workforce for each Ministry.
The Council discussed a draft financial disclosure law, which aims to establish institutional integrity and transparency in a manner that achieves prevention of corruption and graft, and the protection of public funds. All ministries were requested to provide the Ministry of Administrative Development with observations for their consideration and approval of the project in its final form.
The Council allocated 24 billion pounds initially to implement the development projects that were approved during the cabinet meeting in Homs governorate recently, provided that the necessary funds are allocated for the implementation of the rest of the projects, according to development priorities.
The Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection, Dr. Atef Naddaf, made a presentation on the evaluation of the first day of the application of the mechanism to provide subsidized materials to citizens through the e-services card, indicating that about 54 thousand families benefited from this mechanism yesterday, indicating that the number of devices and sales outlets in the governorates that are in great demand will be increased. Increasingly on the service, explaining that the citizen can, throughout the month, receive his benefits through any outlet affiliated with the institution and in all governorates.
The Council agreed to grant the Syrian Foundation for Trade a financial advance of 20 billion pounds to continue importing the materials "sugar and rice" to cover the needs of the local market of these materials in sufficient quantities and at subsidized prices.
Munther Al-Omari
