Central Bank of Syria says U.S. mission to oversee new currency launch
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Abdullkader Husrieh, announced on Monday that a special U.S. mission will follow up on the process of replacing and issuing new currency notes in Syrian markets.
Speaking to the state-run al-Ikhbariya TV channel, Husrieh said that he and Finance Minister Mohammed Yasser Bernieh attended around 60 meetings during their recent visit to the United States. The visit was part of Syria’s participation in the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group.
According to Husrieh, the meetings included discussions with the IMF, World Bank, U.S. Treasury Department, Federal Reserve, American consulting firms, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He added that they also held talks with major financial corporations such as Visa, Mastercard, and Citibank.
The governor stated that the meetings in Washington aimed to “support Syria’s recovery process and advance the development of the Central Bank,” as well as to facilitate “the integration of the Syrian financial sector into the global financial system.”
He noted that an agreement was reached to provide technical assistance for regulating digital currencies in Syria, describing it as a “very significant development.”
Husrieh also revealed that a specialized payment systems mission will visit Syria in mid-November to assess the country’s payment infrastructure and propose solutions to improve efficiency and meet “national aspirations.” He further mentioned that additional missions will follow to support Syria’s financial sector reform and to train local staff.
The statements mark an unusual acknowledgment of direct coordination with U.S.-based institutions, as Syria has been under wide-ranging Western sanctions for over a decade. No confirmation or comment has yet been issued from U.S. officials or the mentioned organizations regarding the visit or the agreements cited by Syrian authorities.