Governor's Paris Visit
The governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Safwat Raslan, who also heads the national anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing authority, held his first official round of meetings in Paris on 31 October 2026 with representatives of European and international banks and institutions. The talks focused on reconnecting Syria to the European banking system, reviving banking relationships, and strengthening financial cooperation after years of isolation.
Meeting With Lenders
A working session was hosted by Bank Al Khaliji France S.A. and brought together representatives of First Abu Dhabi Bank, Banque de France, and Fransabank. Discussions centered on restoring banking relationships, expanding the correspondent banking network, facilitating trade finance, and developing payment and international transfer channels.
Correspondent links are the accounts foreign banks hold for one another to clear cross-border payments, the channel Syrian lenders need to settle trade and remittances internationally.
Wider Engagements
The governor also met the French-Syrian Business Council and Natixis, part of the BPCE Group, to discuss economic and banking cooperation. A separate meeting was held with Tracfin, France's financial intelligence unit.
Compliance Push
The visit coincided with Syria's work to strengthen its framework against money laundering and terrorism financing, with an emphasis on transparency and financial integrity. Officials framed the effort as a way to rebuild international trust and help Syrian banks reintegrate into the global network.
Syria took part in the plenary of the Financial Action Task Force in Paris, chaired by the United Kingdom and attended by more than 200 jurisdictions and organizations. It was described as the country's first participation in over 15 years. Members agreed on measures to counter evolving financial crime, including risks tied to virtual assets.
Talks, Not Deals
No agreements were signed and no figures were announced. The meetings were presented as discussions and statements of intent rather than binding commitments, leaving the pace of any reconnection to future steps.