Talks in Bangkok
Syria's finance minister held a series of meetings with international lenders and the US bank Citigroup on the sidelines of the 2026 annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Bangkok. The discussions on 13 October 2026 focused on financing imports, developing financial markets, and advancing the government's economic reform agenda.
The round of talks reflects a broader push to reconnect Syrian public finance with regional and international institutions after years of isolation from the global banking system.
Credit Lines for Imports
With the Arab Monetary Fund, the talks addressed Syria's outstanding obligations to the institution and the possible resumption of the Arab Trade Financing Program. Officials discussed opening credit lines for the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Syria to finance government imports, a step that would ease pressure on scarce foreign currency.
The two sides also weighed accelerating Syria's connection to the Arab regional payments platform, and agreed in principle to organize training and capacity-building programs for government staff in Damascus.
Building a Bond Market
A high-level delegation from Citigroup discussed developing Syria's capital markets, including the possible establishment of a market for bonds and other debt instruments. The conversation covered financial reforms and strengthening the market infrastructure needed to attract financing and investment.
World Bank Grants
Officials separately reviewed the implementation of grants to Syria and the scope for expanding them to support development and reconstruction. The country has received $493 million (USD) in grants from the International Development Association, spread across six sectors: electricity, health, water, the financial sector, public finance, and education.
Talks, Not Deals
No binding agreements were signed during the meetings, which remained at the level of consultation apart from the understanding on training programs. Taken together, the contacts point to a widening effort to restore the financing channels and market institutions that Syria's economy has lacked for more than a decade.