“Top priority for the country’s budget is the support of the country’s military forces and provision of whatever it requires for the defense of the Syrian people, to all those injured or who have otherwise suffered in the war and to the families of those who perished in the conflict,” Mamun Hamdan told Sputnik Arabic.
The Finance Minister also revealed how the country’s top financial institution is securing the country’s budget while war is raging and amid the slowdown of any business activity in the country.
The Finance Ministry’s major role, he said, is to set up the country’s state budget and agree it with all the Syrian officials. It should also ensure all the revenue necessary for financing the state’s activities.
The situation in the country has gravely deteriorated due to the ongoing war and the ministry experiences great difficulties ensuring the financing.
The war has left an impact on all the sectors of the economy and the devastation of some economic leverage (and the taxes and other duties are one of the major sources for the ministry) has resulted in economic activity falling into a slump.
The ministry is now constantly searching for new sources of revenue which will be enough to ensure the steady financing of the country’s economy.
“We should think more of how to prevent the losses in various state sectors, of how to agree the budget with all the interested parties and study the spending procedure so that it ensures the country’s essential needs,” said the minister.
After discussion with the representatives of the Syrian people, the parliament made it a priority to support the state-run and private business enterprises, especially those damaged by the war and terrorism.
The strategy is based on mobilization of all the sectors of the economy, be it state-run, private, agriculture, trade or industrial by providing all the conditions necessary to revive Syria’s economic activity.
The country’s Ministry of Finance grants all the support to the state-run and private sectors of economy. The ministry’s officials examine the projects of those plants and companies which are subject to the reconstruction and recovery.
With regards to private companies and enterprises, the officials have met with manufacturers, exporters and other public figures to put forward a system of benefits and other measures of support.
If there are laws which could somehow impede the revival of the country’s economy, the ministry is eager to review them.
Mamun Hamdan also commented on the businessmen who fled the country during the conflict, saying that his home country will welcome back any Syrian who had left and is eager to come back.
