In a bold move signaling Syria’s ambitions for economic revival, Finance Minister Yisr Barnieh issued a global call to investors on Wednesday, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the complete lifting of American sanctions on the war-torn country.
Speaking from Damascus in an exclusive interview with Reuters, Barnieh said Syria is entering a new era and positioned itself as a land of “unparalleled opportunity.” With decades of conflict behind it, the country is now looking to rebuild—with international investment at the center of its strategy.
“Syria today is a land of opportunities, with immense potential across every sector—from agriculture to oil, tourism, infrastructure, and transportation,” Barnieh said. “We envision a central role for the private sector in the new Syrian economy.”
He emphasized that the Finance Ministry’s role is evolving—from a watchdog to a facilitator. “We’re not here to spend indiscriminately or police the business sector,” he added. “We’re here to enable growth.”
The signs of change are already visible. A faded outline of former leader Bashar al-Assad’s poster on the ministry’s wall serves as a symbolic reminder of the past.
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Assad was ousted by Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in late 2024, fleeing to Russia after years of civil conflict. His replacement, former rebel commander Ahmed Sharaa, has since taken over as interim president, quickly forming a government and winning support from Gulf Arab states and European countries alike.
Barnieh noted that Trump’s announcement has opened the floodgates for Syria’s reintegration into the global financial system—a vital step in unlocking capital and rebuilding its shattered economy.
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“One of the most critical outcomes of lifting sanctions would be Syria’s reintegration into the global financial system. This would allow us to restore financial flows and attract urgently needed investment,” he said.
The minister confirmed that interest is already pouring in from regional heavyweights including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar—as well as several European Union member states.
To build investor confidence, Syria is undertaking sweeping reforms in public finance. These include modernizing the tax system, overhauling customs regulations, and revamping banking operations—all part of a broader push to streamline what has long been a bloated public sector.
Still, Barnieh cautioned against premature celebration. “The lifting of sanctions is not the final chapter,” he warned. “This is just the beginning. We are entering a new phase that demands real results and visible progress on the ground.”
As Syria pivots from conflict to reconstruction, the government hopes that international partnerships will play a pivotal role in writing its next chapter—one built not on ideology or isolation, but on commerce, reform, and sustainable development.
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