Mohammad Yassin Hourieh, Assistant Minister of Economy and Industry in Syria, stated that the country’s industrial sector recorded a relative improvement over the past year as part of a gradual recovery process, although it has not yet reached the stage of full growth.
Hourieh explained that a number of industrial facilities have resumed operations, alongside the entry of new investments, particularly in the food-processing and light-industry sectors. He noted that the percentage of operating industrial and craft establishments currently ranges between 60% and 65%, representing more than 81,000 facilities out of approximately 128,000 nationwide.
He pointed out that the current phase is focused on consolidating recovery efforts and rebuilding the productive base, stressing the need for additional measures and procedures to support the transition toward sustainable economic growth.
He further explained that the sector continues to face major challenges, most notably rising energy costs, financing difficulties, exchange-rate fluctuations, increasing prices of raw materials, damage to infrastructure, and a shortage of skilled labor.
He added that the government is working to support the industrial sector by providing financing facilities, exemptions, and various incentives, including tax packages, simplified licensing procedures, easier access to loans, and customs exemptions on machinery and equipment, according to the newspaper Al-Hurriya.
