Damascus, SANA- Finance Minister Mohammed Yasar Barnieh met with Dr. Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), along with her accompanying delegation, to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
During their meeting at the Ministry of Finance, both parties agreed to support the development of Syria’s microfinance sector and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
They also decided to establish a joint task force comprising several ministries, with the participation of international institutions and experts to achieve this objective.
Additionally, they agreed to collaborate on enhancing social protection networks and advancing economic, financial, and social statistics and database development in cooperation with the Planning and Statistics Authority and the Central Bank of Syria.
Both sides emphasized the importance of supporting preparations for Syria’s population census through capacity building, training, and the provision of digital devices, with participation from the Planning and Statistics Authority.
They also discussed assisting in the creation of a digital platform to facilitate communication with Syrian experts abroad. Furthermore, they explored the possibility of holding various ESCWA activities in Syria to maximize benefits and encourage wider Syrian participation.
Manar Salameh