the value of investment projects in Syria, which were licensed in accordance with Law No. 10 during 2005, exceeded SP350 billion (some US$6.3 billion), Assistant Director of Investment Bureau has disclosed.

According to SANA, Mohammad Seif Eddinn added that the rate of foreign investments reached 30% of the above-mentioned figure compared with 12% of the total value of investments in 2004, which amounted to SP202 billion. “The 2005 projects were distributed to industrial, real-estate, agricultural and transport sectors,” Seif Eddin indicated, clarifying that the licensed industrial projects centered on cement, textile and food industries. He pointed out that ministerial committee was formed to discuss hindrances that may face investors in field of cement and putting the needed solutions to that.