Barnea discusses with Norway support for Syria's health and economic recovery

Syrian Finance Minister Mohammad Yasser Barnea held talks with Norwegian Minister of International Development Asmund Okrest and his team on ways to enhance cooperation and support recovery efforts in Syria, on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank held in the Thai capital Bangkok.

The Ministry stated that both sides reviewed Norway's participation in the Syria Multi-Donor Fund, with the Norwegian side expressing interest in contributing and providing necessary support, prioritizing the healthcare sector, including supporting the Ministries of Finance and Health to achieve universal health coverage in Syria by 2030.

For his part, the two sides discussed the poverty alleviation strategy that the Syrian government is preparing in collaboration with relevant ministries, with the Norwegian side expressing interest in the strategy and its programs, and its desire to contribute to supporting efforts to reduce poverty rates in Syria.

The meeting also addressed the provision of technical support by the Norwegian side in the fields of tax administration and digital transformation, alongside exploring the possibility of benefiting from Norwegian expertise in the sustainability of pension and retirement systems and knowledge transfer in this area.

Barnea appreciated Norway's support for the Syrian government and the projects it implements in Syria, highlighting the "Syria Without Camps" initiative and emphasizing the importance of focusing on integrated multi-sectoral projects that contribute to creating appropriate conditions for the return of displaced persons from camps.

Barnea stressed the importance of Norway continuing its support for Syria through implementing diverse projects that contribute to recovery and development efforts, while the Norwegian side welcomed Syria's accession to the membership of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and expressed its commitment to supporting Syria in international institutions.

The Finance Minister had earlier in the day held talks with Italian Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti on ways to enhance financial cooperation between the two countries.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)