IMF Concludes Staff Visit to Syria
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Photo - Towfiqu Barbhuiya/Unsplash
An IMF staff team visited Damascus from July 19–23, 2026, to assess Syria’s economic conditions, discuss reform progress and policy priorities, and agree on further technical assistance as part of the IMF’s intensified engagement with Syria.
Syria’s recovery is strengthening, with double-digit growth expected in 2026 and continued strong growth in 2027, supported by improving agriculture, hydrocarbon production, electricity provision, trade, and services, and aided by refugee returns, an increasing number of visitors, and government spending. Poverty remains widespread, however, and growth is uneven across regions. Contd
Building on progress made, there is a need for continued sound fiscal and monetary policies, stronger public financial management and revenue mobilization, urgent banking sector rehabilitation, enhanced AML/CFT safeguards, improved economic statistics, and sustained international support to address Syria’s humanitarian and development needs.To promote Syria’s re-integration into the international financial system and facilitate much-needed investment and financial flows, the AML/CFT framework needs to be enhanced, including to achieve Syria’s removal from FATF’s grey list.
“The IMF continues to support the authorities in their efforts to rehabilitate Syria’s economy and improve the functioning of key economic institutions, building on the considerable progress they have made over the last year-and-a half. As part of this support, an extensive program of technical assistance was agreed for the period ahead," said an IMF statement.
