Damascus Meeting on Rail Financing
Syria's Minister of Transport, Yarub Badr, met a World Bank mission led by Jean-Christophe Carret at the ministry building in Damascus on Wednesday 13 May 2026 to review the executive steps for a project to develop and rehabilitate the country's railway network. A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Youssef al-Faris, also attended the talks.
The two sides examined the preparatory phases already completed and the work still required to secure World Bank financing for the project.
Amman Workshop Scheduled
The discussions set intensive working meetings in Amman from 15 to 17 June 2026, bringing together delegates from the Syrian transport ministry and the institutions responsible for the railway sector. The participating bodies include the General Establishment for Railways, the General Company for Railway Construction, and the General Establishment for the Hejaz Railway.
A specialized training workshop in Amman will examine the social and environmental impacts of infrastructure projects and the assessment mechanisms required to clear the project file with international donors.
Document and Board Approval
The two parties agreed to complete the project document and forward it to the World Bank's board of directors for financing approval at the earliest possible date. A first joint meeting between the ministry's technical team and the World Bank team is set for June 2026 to advance preparation of the document.
The World Bank delegation confirmed receipt of the Syrian government's financing request and signaled that the project will be supported on a track similar to the bank's ongoing assistance in the energy sector.
Regional Corridor Ambition
The minister underlined Syria's role as a transit corridor connecting Europe to the Arabian Gulf through a railway network running from Turkey through Syria and Jordan to Saudi Arabia, a project he said draws political attention from the leaderships of all four countries.
He pointed to the growing importance of land and rail freight after disruptions to global supply chains, particularly following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which exposed the vulnerability of maritime transport routes.
Wider Track Record of Talks
Wednesday's meeting follows a series of earlier exchanges between Syria's transport ministry and the World Bank on supporting the rail sector, rehabilitating the underlying infrastructure, and meeting the technical, financial, and environmental requirements set by international financing institutions.
The Assistant Minister for Land Transport, Mohammad Rahhal, the Land Transport Director, Ali Esber, and the International Cooperation Director, Iyad al-Asaad, took part in the discussions.