Mission Arrives in Damascus
A technical assistance mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) began work at the Central Bank of Syria on 20 September 2026. The mission, running through 1 October 2026, is focused on strengthening two areas of the country's official data: its monetary and financial statistics and its external-sector statistics.
Rebuilding Data Systems
Work is organized around two systems: monetary and financial statistics, and external-sector statistics. The delegation is holding technical sessions and training workshops covering data quality, statistical harmonization, and wider coverage of non-bank financial institutions and banking-sector soundness indicators. The stated aim is to bring Syria's core monetary and financial statistics closer to international standards after years of fragmented reporting, giving policymakers a clearer picture of money supply, credit, and the banking system's condition.
External Sector in Focus
A second track addresses external-sector figures, including foreign trade, services, remittances, direct investment, external debt, and the international investment position. These are the indicators international lenders, ratings analysts, and investors rely on to judge an economy's health and its ability to meet obligations abroad.
Government Coordination
Finance Minister Muhammad Yasir Burnia met IMF representatives on 13 September 2026 to discuss support for adopting updated public-finance statistics guidance and the requirements for that transition. The meeting signaled coordination between the finance ministry and the central bank on the data agenda.
Why It Matters
Reliable monetary and external statistics are a precondition for credible exchange-rate and monetary policy, and for renewed engagement with international financial institutions. The mission is an early technical step in that direction rather than a financing arrangement, but it points to a gradual reopening of channels that were closed for much of the past decade.