Syrian industrialist criticizes caretaker government’s unfulfilled promises
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Deputy Chair of the Chamber of Industry in Damascus, Louay Nahlawe, criticized on Thursday the Syrian caretaker government’s failure to fulfill promises to support the industrial sector and being inaccessible to industry leaders.
Speaking to North Press, Nahlawe stated that the Syrian caretaker government’s Minister of Economy and Industry had pledged to support the industry from his first days in office, yet to this day, nothing has been done.
He warned that over 400,000 workers are at risk of losing their jobs due to severe economic conditions and the lack of tangible government measures to support the industrial sector.
Nahlawe also pointed out that more than 100,000 Syrians have returned from Egypt, Erbil, and Dubai in the past two months, questioning, “Where are the job opportunities for them? If I cannot even retain my current workers, how can I absorb the newcomers?”
He recalled that under the previous government, ministers openly acknowledged being controlled by higher authorities, saying, “One minister used to point to Assad’s portrait, implying he had no real power.” However, he noted that today’s ministry has decision-making authority but is still failing to act.
Expressing frustration over the government’s silence, Nahlawe expressed his discontent with the Ministry of Economy and Industry’s lack of response to their demands, saying, “If they want us to be like industrialists or as chambers of industry, or as unions, that is one thing. If they want us to be the voice of the people, that is another, and I am not satisfied with this reality.”