Qatar’s support promotes stability, development, says Syrian minister

Syrian Minister of Finance Dr Mohammed Yisr Barnieh said that the recent Qatari-Saudi $89mn support to enable the payment of salaries for government employees, represents a continuation of the generous fraternal support provided by the State of Qatar, in partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to Syria’s people and its institutions.He affirmed that this support reflects the deep fraternal relations between the two countries and demonstrates Qatar’s firm commitment to backing Syria in its path toward reconstruction and development.In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), he expressed the Syrian government’s sincere appreciation and gratitude to the State of Qatar for its ongoing and valued support across various fields. He pointed out that this support had a tangible positive impact during and after the Syrian crisis by strengthening national institutions and supporting the development process.He explained that the Qatari-Saudi grant came at a critical stage, highlighted by Qatar’s active contributions to energy and electricity projects that will help improve vital services and ensure their continuity, as these are fundamental pillars for economic growth and sustainable development. This is alongside Qatar’s investments in infrastructure projects that support the Syrian economy, he added.Qatar’s support, alongside Saudi Arabia, to help cover wage and salary expenses extends their previously well-recognised role, helping the Syrian government in advancing its plan to reform the wage system and close the arrears file with the World Bank, he said, noting that this reflects Qatar’s consistent keenness to support the Syrian state efforts to achieve economic recovery and restore the path of sustainable developmentThe Syrian Minister of Finance confirmed that this generous support embodies the depth of fraternal relations between Syria and Qatar and affirms Doha’s firm commitment to supporting Syria on its journey toward comprehensive reconstruction and development.He pointed out that the grant is an important step in supporting the wage and salary system in Syria and contributing to improving the living standards of public sector employees.He explained that this initiative is a continuation of previous grants that helped enhance the stability of public services and alleviate the living burdens on employees and citizens, while also directly supporting the government’s efforts to implement wage system reforms.In his interview with QNA, he noted that the grant will gradually cover about 17% of the wage bill for non-military employees, a significant percentage that will enable the government to continue its economic, financial, and social reform program, positively impacting citizens’ livelihoods and the stability of state institutions’ performance.The Syrian government, he said, is grateful to its brothers in Qatar for their constant support of Syria in regional and international forums and their readiness to provide expertise, knowledge, and technical advice in financial reform areas.He also emphasised that Syria seeks to build on the continuous Qatari-Saudi support to expand co-operation areas in the upcoming phase by developing comprehensive strategic partnerships with sisterly and friendly countries.This, he said, aims to enhance opportunities for economic and social development, attract investments, and improve the quality of basic services.He clarified that the fraternal co-operation with Qatar and Saudi Arabia is especially important in supporting vital sectors, developing economic policies, and transferring institutional expertise, knowledge, and technologies, thereby contributing to supporting institutional reform in Syria, activating the Syrian economy, and improving the overall and sustainable standard of living.In September, a $89mn joint grant from Qatar and Saudi Arabia was announced to support the salaries of public sector employees in the Syrian Arab Republic.This funding also aims to enhance the stability of essential public services.The initiative was launched by Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aiming to support the Syrian government’s efforts to implement financial and economic reforms and improve living standards for civil sector employees within the national recovery programme.