IMF Team Meets Finance Ministry
Finance Minister Mohammad Yisr Barnieh met a team of International Monetary Fund (IMF) experts led by Ron van Rooden at the ministry's headquarters in Damascus on 11 November 2026. The talks reviewed progress on the government's financial and economic reform program and the country's macroeconomic outlook.
The two sides examined growth estimates and the preparation of the state's general budget, and the visiting mission noted the budget's performance and its execution on schedule.
Article IV Review Set for 2027
The meeting focused on arrangements for an Article IV consultation, the Fund's standard review of a member's economy, which is planned for the first quarter of 2027. Officials said the accompanying debt sustainability analysis is nearly complete.
Such a consultation would be the first for the country since 2009, marking a step toward re-establishing routine engagement with the Washington-based lender after years of isolation.
Reform Agenda Under Review
Discussions covered reform of the tax system and the financial sector, including insurance, capital markets, mortgage finance, and state-owned banks. The mission commended improvements in the macro-fiscal framework and in the economic modelling used to guide policy.
The visiting experts also welcomed proposed measures to clear the state's arrears and pointed to greater transparency in the budget process.
Subsidy Overhaul Planned
The ministry said it would hold a workshop on restructuring the subsidy system at the close of the mission. The stated aim is to redirect support toward vulnerable groups rather than spreading it across the board.
Deepening Engagement
The visit builds on earlier contacts between the two sides. On 14 October 2026, the finance minister and the central bank governor met the head of the Fund's Institute for Capacity Development to discuss training and technical support programs.
The renewed engagement reflects the government's effort to anchor a reform drive that spans public finances, the banking system, and the budget.