IMF confirms readiness to support Syrian economic recovery
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), confirmed on Sunday that official communication is underway between the Syrian transitional government and the IMF.
“The Fund is prepared to support Syria,” Azour stated in an interview with Jordan’s Al-Mamlaka TV channel.
Azour emphasized that the IMF stands ready to assist Syria and all of its member states, highlighting the institution’s inclusive approach to economic recovery and stabilization efforts.
Addressing the absence of Syrian economic data in the IMF’s latest report, Azour explained that the omission was due to the unavailability of official statistics from Syrian authorities, citing the prolonged conflict and the government’s limited technical capacity to compile reliable economic indicators in recent years.
He also noted that the IMF’s recent Spring Meetings in Washington included a high-level session dedicated to Syria. The session focused on the country’s current challenges and explored ways to activate cooperation with Damascus in the coming phase.
In a related development, Syria’s finance minister, Mohammad Yasser Barnaia, announced in April that the IMF had appointed an envoy to Syria following meetings with Fund officials in the United States.
Azour concluded by noting that the high-level Washington session demonstrated a collective commitment to supporting Syria’s efforts toward economic recovery and sustainable development amid the severe challenges it continues to face.