Agenda - 1-2/06/2009
4th Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions Conference
Under the Patronage of H.E Dr. Adib Mayaleh, Governor of Syria's Central Bank

under the slogan “Islamic Banking .. Investment Opportunities and Competition Challenges"
which will be held at DEDEMAN Hotel -Damascus on  1-2/06/2009

At a time of expectations and aspirations in the Syrian market, Islamic banks are realising that the economical and sociological environment had become advantageous to their activity. The convening of this conference is an important factor in consolidating and supporting Islamic banking and financing in Syria. It is a pivotal landmark in Islamic banking, which is now a concrete reality in Syria.

The two-day conference discussions will cover the following areas
-    Islamic financial industry (challenges and competition)
-    Government bonds, sukuk, liquidity management
-    Financial markets and regulated trade financing
-    Assets management and financing companies and individuals
-    Takaful Insurance and products standards
-    Global financial crisis as an opportunity to enhance Islamic banks
-    Features of the Syrian Islamic banking market (reality and ambitions)
-    Regulations on e-banking operations
-    Accounting and auditing standards, ethical and sharia controls
-    Monetary policies and the role of central banks in achieving internal and external balance and financial development.

Speakers and participants
-    The conference will gather more than 800 participants, among them are chairmen and executive managers of Islamic banks, financial institutions, and commercial and investment banks; staff from legislative, governmental, academic, political and diplomatic bodies; businessmen, investors, industrialists, merchants, experts in finance and economy, and members of board of commerce, industry and tourism chambers.
-    Speakers’ list includes a number of central bank governors, international entity directors, key Islamic banks and financial institution managers.

The exhibition
An exhibition will accompany the conference, where many local and international players will present their latest services, technologies, equipment and relevant software in regards to Islamic banks, takaful insurance, investment funds, Islamic financial institutions, Islamic financing and leasing firms, consultancy councils and agencies, banking systems and equipment and training centres.

For further information:
AL SALAM For International Conferences & Exhibitions
Damascus, Syria
Tel. : +963 11 3342771
Fax : +963 11 3342770
alsalam2@mail.sy - alsalam@alsalam.co.sy
www.alsalam.co.sy

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Agenda : 24 & 25 janvier 2009, Chahba Palace Hotel
The First International Conference for Finance & Development

Business & Development for Conferences and Exhibitions is organizing an International Conference on Finance and Development in Aleppo on the 24 and 25th of January 2009 at the Chahba Palace Hotel. The conference will discuss various issues regarding the improvement of the investment climate in Syria, the development of new financial institutions, mortgage financing, access to finance for small and medium enterprises and microfinance. The conference will also be an opportunity to present and promote various business opportunities and projects.T he event will bring together more than 500 participants from many countries in the Middle East region and beyond.

Conference’s to pics

First session: Recent trends in the financial and banking industry - Finance for development
This session will discuss the emergence of new financial instruments and tools, and how this will reflect on the improvement of financial intermediation in the economy, and the risks associated with this trend. Also the session will address the issue of the increasing role of the international principles and standards that are applied to the finance and banking sectors.

Second session: Investment climate in Aleppo - Outlook for a financial and commercial centre
This session will provide an opportunity to discuss the investment climate in Syria and in Aleppo in particular, and report on the main challenges and obstacles. It will also introduce the legal, institutional, and market requirements and preconditions to develop Aleppo into a financial and commercial centre in Syria. This session will a lso provide an opportunity to present and promote various investment projects in Aleppo.

Third session : Islamic Banking & Finance - Trends and opportunities
This session will provide an overview of Islamic banking and finance, and an outlook for expanding Islamic financial services in Syria.

Fourth session : Long-term investment and the Insurance Sector.
This session will discuss the role of the insurance sector in attracting long-term savings and the effects on economic development.

Fifth session : The potential role of capital markets in supporting development and the need for raising investment awareness
In view of the grow in the initial public offering of securities in Syria, this session will discuss the role of capital markets in providing long term financing to the economy. T his session will illustrate the benefits and the risks associated in investing in the capital market. It will also focus on the role of the authorities and the media in spreading awareness and knowledge about investing in the capital market.

Sixth session : Supporting small, medium and microfinance enterprises (SMEs) and the role of the financial sector
This session will discuss the importance and the need for strengthening and supporting the growth of small and medium enterprises in the economy, and how the financial sector can play a vital role through extending the financial services that suit the needs of these enterprises. The session will also address the issue of the role of credit bureaus as an essential element of the financial infrastructure that facilitate access to finance. It will also explain the importance of developing microfinance institutions in Syria and their possible impact on unemployment, through looking at other countries experiences in this regard.

Seventh session : Developing mortgage finance, preconditions and requirements
In view of recent legislation related to Mortgage Finance, this session will discuss the importance of developing this sector in attracting more capital to the financial subsystem and fostering economic growth. The session will also underline the legal and institutional aspects of mortgage finance development, and the role of banking and non- banking institutions in this matter.

www.bizdev-sy.com

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01/2009 - Oxford Business Group
Syria : 2008 year in review

By most standards, Syria has had an exceptional year, returning to centre stage diplomatically and continuing to put in place reforms aimed at strengthening and opening up the economy.
Perhaps the highlight of 2008 was President Bashar Al Assad's appearance at the Union of the Mediterranean summit in Paris in July. Long excluded from many international forums due to its alleged links with terrorism, its close ties with Iran and enmity with Israel, the gathering of leaders from some 40 Mediterranean states marked a  turning point for Syria's foreign relations, one that also had a major impact on the economy.
Not only did the Syrian president declare his willingness to join the loose economic and diplomatic union proposed by his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, Al Assad also used the summit to announce he was prepared to open direct negotiations with Israel. Additionally, he offered to act as a mediator in talks between the West and Iran and said Damascus was ready to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon.
With Syria's standing in the international community boosted by these welcome overtures, foreign interest in the economy began to rise.
At the beginning of October, Dubai-based developer Majid Al Futtaim Group announced it was planning to invest at least $1bn in what will be Syria's largest ever mixed-use real estate project, combining hotels, villas and apartments with a shopping district and entertainment complex.
In November, officials from t hree Russian mobile phone companies, MTS, Vimpelcom and MegaFon, all à said their firms would be interested in bidding for a proposed third cellular phone license, while even US firms are getting in the act.
In mid-May, a new $90m sugar refinery was opened in the province of Homs. Operated by the National Sugar Company, the refinery is a joint venture between the Syrian Sugar Refinery Holding, which holds half of the firm's shares, US agribusiness giant Cargill, a 40% stakeholder and Brazilian sugar producer Crystalsev, which controls the remaining 10% of shares in the company.
In late July, during a meeting with representatives of 30 leading French companies to discuss future investments, Abdullah Al Dardari, Syria's deputy prime minister for economic affairs, said Damascus was looking to revive a plan to buy up to 50 passenger aircraft from Airbus for national carrier Syrian Airlines, which had been put on the backburner due to economic sanctions.
The deal would not only strengthen the airline ahead of its proposed flot ation on the soon to be opened Damascus Stock Exchange, but would also allow the national carrier to cash in on the increasing interest in Syria as a tourist destination.
According to a report issued mid-year by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), tourism is set to become one of Syria's main income earners over the next decade. In its 2008 report on Syria, the WTTC said travel and tourism would contribute $4.9bn to gross domestic product this year, doubling to $9.6bn by 2018.
But it wasn't all plain sailing for Syria in 2008, as drought hit the agriculture sector hard. As of mid-August, towards the end of the main harvesting season, just 962,000 tonnes of wheat had been brought in, well under half of Syria's domestic consumption requirements, according to financial news agency Bloomberg, basing its report on official Syrian figures.
The drought also hurt one of Syria's main revenue earning crop, cotton. This year, just 180,000 ha were planted, down from the 220,000 of 2007, as the state encouraged farmers to sh ift to wheat production.
Shortages of grain, which pushed up meat prices due to a lack of stock feed, combined with government cuts in some subsidies, contributed to rising inflation. According to official statistics, inflation was running at 5.5% at the beginning of 2008, whilst recent estimates by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) put inflation at 8%. The true figure is believed to be much higher, with the price of some commodities having risen by as much as 60% during the year.
During the year, the Syrian government put in place further reforms to encourage investment and the development of the private sector. These included lowering the upper rate of tax for companies and individuals from 63% to 28% and to 22% for those firms operating under investment incentive legislation. Customs duties were also reduced to boost both imports and overseas sales.
Syria also introduced a new commercial code that simplified business start-ups by taking lawyers a nd the court out of the registration process, and enacted reforms to simplify tax registration for new businesses.
The country's banking system did not feel a direct impact from the global financial crisis, mainly due to its low exposure to toxic loans as a result of the restrictions imposed by the central bank and sanctions by the US on many Syrian banks.
By the middle of the year, total banking assets amounted to $35.4bn, according to a report by the Central Bank of Syria, up 3.25% since the beginning of 2008, while deposits rose by 9% to 21.64bn.
On the diplomatic front, the year ended on a high note with Syria and the EU initiating an updated version of a partnership agreement that will see the bloc provide economic and technical support to Damascus, as well as open further channels for political dialogue and cultural co-operation.
The signing of the final version of the agreement, set for the first half of 2009, will pave the way for Syri a and the EU to remove all barriers to free trade within 12 years. Pr ogress towards implementing the partnership agreement stalled in early 2005, after the EU member states halted the approval process following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February of that year.
The resumption of the partnership process rounded out a year in which Syria was able to throw off much of the international hostility and suspicion directed towards it in recent years, managed to open up its economy still further and put it in a position to reap the benefits of diplomatic successes.

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12/2008 - iloubnan.info
ADIR lance officiellement ses activités en Syrie

Selon le rapport hebdomadaire « Lebanon this week », la société d’assurance ADIR Insurance s.a.l., filiale d’assurance du Groupe Banque Byblos, a officiellement lancé ses activités en Syrie. La société a établi la filiale « ADIR Insurance Syria » en septembre 2007. Elle représente l’extension géographique de ADIR Insurance sal dans au Proche-Orient et l’Afrique du Nord, en collaboration avec le partenaire européen Natixis Assurances-France et la Banque Byblos. ADIR Syria dispose en effet d’un capital de 1.25 milliards de livres syriennes, soient 25 millions de dollars américains. Le montant de ce capital est le plus élevé par rapport à tous les assureurs des pays non islamiques déjà opérant en Syrie. A savoir que la société ADIR sal, la Banque Byblos sal (Liban) et Byblos Bank Syria possèdent ensemble 58% des actions de ADIR Syria. Plus de 20 hommes d’affaires syriens font partie également des actionnaires fondateurs.

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10/2008 - Oxford Business Group
Syria : Easier Business

Syria climbed eight places in the latest comparative report released by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), indicating strong progress in certain key areas to facilitate conducting business.
Syria moved from 145th to 137th in the overall rankings of the "Doing Business 2009" report, issued in mid-September. The report assessed a total of 181 national economies, studying the status of business regulations and their enforcement over ten separate categories, with the stated aim of "measuring the regulation and red tape relevant to the life cycle of a domestic small to medium size firm".
Much of the credit for Syria's rise in the rankings comes from its improvement in ease of starting up a new business. In the past year, the government has put in place a series of reforms aimed at cutting through the red tape required to register and open a new company.
These measures included reducing the number of processes that have to be completed; making many of the forms available from the Ministry of Economy and Trade, rather than from multiple agencies; and reducing approval times. In total, in Syria there are eight steps required to open a business, which can be completed in 17 days, well below the regional average of 23.5.
Additionally, Syria has introduced a new commercial code that has simplified business start-up by taking lawyers and the court out of the registration process, and has enacted reforms at the tax directorate by simplifying tax registration for new businesses.
These reforms saw Syria jump 47 places in the rankings for ease of starting a business, coming in 124th overall and 11th among the 19 countries assessed in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Syria performed best in the category of registering property, where it came in 71st overall and a creditable fifth in the region, after being evaluated for obtainment of property tax clearance, filing of applications, payment of registration feels and the time required before a title deed is issued.
While it may be easy to register property in Syria, it is a far more involved process to obtain construction permits, according to the report. Assessed on the procedures, time, and costs to build a warehouse - including obtaining necessary licences and permits, completing required notifications and inspections and obtaining utility connections - Syria slipped eight places to 132nd.
Significantly, Syria made notable progress in the ease of conducting cross border trade, a category especially important to the future of the country's economy. Syria improved 16 places from last year, moving from 127th to 111th overall.
In part, the World Bank attributes the improvement in cross border trade to the emergence of private banks in the Syrian market. The broadening of the local banking sector has resulted in a speeding up of the issuance of letters of credit, allowing traders to gain access to funds more promptly and thus lowering the overall time to import and export, the report said.
However, potential investors may worry about Syria's poor score in the category of ease of enforcing contracts, as it ranked 174th overall, one rung down from last year. According to the report, it takes 872 days to complete the 55 processes required to settle a payment dispute through the courts, judged from when a plaintiff files the lawsuit until actual payment.
Another concern for investors will be Syria's performance in the report's strength of legal rights of borrowers and lenders index, where it ranked second to last in the region, ahead only of Gaza-West Bank, and 178th overall.
Overall, Syria was graded a dismal second from last in terms of accessing credit, tying with Afghanistan and Timor-Leste and just ahead of the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau.
While Syria has implemented reforms to improve its business climate, progress appears to have been uneven. In order to further advance the government's programme of opening up and diversifying the country's economy and boosting investment, further reforms will be needed.  
Damascus' recent moves to achieve a rapprochement with the West, the US not included, could have a positive effect on Syria's reform process. With more companies looking to invest in or trade with the once isolated country, Syria may seek to reinforce its programme of economic reforms to increase its appeal as a trade and business destination.  

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Report : Banking and Financial Services Syria 2008

The Syrian financial sector performed extremely in 2007 according to the latest annual survey of the Syria financial sector, Banking and Financial Services Syria 2008. Assets of the Syrian Banking Sector reached USD 34 billion at the end of 2007, an annual increase of 12 percent, while net credit facilities increased by 25 percent. Private sector banks were the main drive behind this expansion as their total balance sheet increased by 60 percent. Beyond banking, ho wever, all financial services witnessed significant development including the first private money-changers allowed in Syria in four decades, the licensing of numerous brokerage firms, the significant increase in per-capita insurance expenditure, the peg of the Syrian Pound to the IMF’s SDRs and the set-up of the first Islamic banking and insurance institutions.

These findings are among a large number of data and information available in this 36-page industry profile released today by The Syria Report.
Banking and Financial Services Syria 2008 includes also an interview with Adib Mayaleh, Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, an overview of the performance of private banks and insurance companies in 2007, an overview of Microfinance and Takaful insurance investment in Syria, a listing of all brokerage firms and foreign exchange firms that have received a license to establish in Syria, etc.

To contact our sales department: Nisreen Al-Bawi, sales@syria-report.com

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The 3rd Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions Conference
"Islamic Banking… Reality and Ambition"

02/2008
Under the Patronage of H.E Dr. Adib Mayaleh, Governor of Central Bank of Syria
The 3rd Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions conference in Syria under the slogan “Islamic Banking …Reality and Ambition”
At Four Seasons Hotel – Damascus, during 10 – 11/3/ 2008

At a time of expectations and eager aspiration towards investing in the Syrian market, Islamic banks are realizing that the general climate and the economical and sociological environments had become advantageous to their activity. And since it is a raw and far from banking congestion the Syrian banking market is promising to be amongst the largest and most comprehensive ones.
The convening of this conference is an important factor in consolidating and supporting Islamic banking and financing in Syria .It is a pivotal landmark in Islamic banking which is now a concrete reality in Syria.
The conference will gather more than 800 participants among them are chairmen, and executive managers of Islamic banks and financial Intuitions, and of commercial and investment banks. And staffs from legislative, governmental, academic, political, and diplomatic bodies. The attendance also includes businessmen, investors, industrialists, merchants, experts in finance and economy, and members of board of commerce, industry, and tourism chambers.

The conference principal topics:

In tow days, the conference will discuss the following topics:

• Statutory Control Board and its role in Fatwa and control.
• Modern Islamic financial tools.
• Islamic bonds (issuance and circulation).
• Foundations and forms of the Islamic (joint) insurance.
• Islamic banking and financing between fact and ambition.
• Real estate and tourist investments in the Islamic financial Intuitions.
• The importance of investment funds in the Islamic economical system.
• Academic and practical development of the human resources, and banking systems.
• Monetary policies and the role of central banks in achieving internal and external balance, and financial development.
• The Islamic financial derivatives

The sponsors are:
Abo Dhabi Islamic Bank (UAE), Nahas Group (Syria), Real estate Bank (Syria), International Turnkey Systems ITS (Kuwait), Tadamon Islamic International Bank (Yemen), Cham Bank (Syria), Islamic International Syrian Bank (Syria), Al Baraka Banking Group (Bahrain), Jordan Islamic Bank (Jordan), Islamic international Arab Bank (Jordan), Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment & Export Credit ICIEC (Saudi), Universal Payment Service UPS (Kuwait), Credit Card Services Co. (Lebanon), Path Solutions (Kuwait), Microlinke MENA(Kuwait), Islamic Insurance Company (Jordan), Amwal (Syria), Investors Group (Kuwait), Islamic Finance News, Al Bayan Magazine (Lebanon), Al Iqtisad Magazine(Syria), IFIS - Islamic Finance Information Service (UK), Oxford Business Group (UK), Masharee ( Syria), The Syria Report (France).

E-mail : alsalam2@mail.sy
Web : www.alsalam.co.sy

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Syrian Arab News Agency: SANA, Damascus Syria
La Compagnie arabe Syrie d'assurance lancera demain, dimanche, officiellement, ses services au marché syrien

07/2007
Damas : La compagnie, d'un milliards cinq cent millions de livres syriennes de capital, avait obtenu l'autorisation d'opérer en Syrie en octobre dernier. Son directeur général, M. Fouad Hanoun, a affirmé que la compagnie envisageait l'ouverture des succursales, en première étape, à Damas, Alep, Lattaquié et Homs, et ensuite à Tartous, Hama, Deirezzor, Soueydaa, et Daraa.
M. Hanoun trouve que le marché syrien est riche, en perpétuelle croissance et d'un avenir prometteur.
La Compagnie arabe-Syrie d'assurance, notons, est une association entre la Compagnie arabe, la Compagnie arabe mondiale bahreinie et un groupe d'hommes d'affaires syriens résidants et émigrés.
Gh.H.

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Syrian Arab News Agency: SANA, Damascus Syria
Banque Audi-Syrie lance la première carte de crédit en Syrie

07/2007
Damas : La Banque Audi-Syrie a lancé hier la première carte de crédit internationale en Syrie en collaboration avec la société Visa international.
Parmi les privilèges de la carte est qu'elle est admise au niveau international aux réseaux commerciaux les plus larges, y compris les hôtels, les centres de commercialisation, les restaurants et les stations de benzène et qu'elle pourrait être utilisée pour tirer la monnaie de plus de 900 mille ATM dans le monde.
Raghda Bittar

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Analyse
Banking and Insurance Syria 2007

05/2007
The Syria Report has published a survey of the Syrian banking and insurance sectors, Banking and Insurance Syria 2007.
 The survey portrays the latest developments in these two key sectors of the Syrian economy, which have attracted significant foreign capital inflow in the last few years.
 The 32-page guide provides an update on the latest reforms in the financial system, a review of the challenges facing state-owned banks, a snapshot on the position of private banks three years after their arrival in the market, a report on the insurance sector in view of its recent liberalisation, a profile of state-owned and private banks and insurance firms, a directory of financial institutions in Syria and the Middle East, etc.
Banking and Insurance Syria 2007 is part of a series of survey of Syrian business sectors by The Syria Report.

Renseignements
http://www.syria-report.com/article.asp?id=2414

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Oxford Business Group
Syria : Islamic Banks on the Road to Damascus

03/2007 
Having worked over the past three years to reform the country's banking, investment and finance laws to promote the development of private banks, Damascus is now actively encouraging the multi-billion dollar Islamic banking sector to play a bigger role in the Syrian economy.

The latest entrant into the market is the Bahrain-based Global House, which on March 21, announced it would be launching an Islamic bank in Syria with a capital of $500m, half of which is already paid in, as soon as the required procedures were completed.

According to Ahmed Bin Hussein al-Dawsary, the chairman of Global House's board of directors, Syria is a fertile market for investment, one with a promising outlook that has become more open and liberal to foreigners.

Global House had been studying the Syrian market for more than a year, since Damascus moved to open up the country to international investors, said al-Dawsary. Though Syria has yet to take full advantage of Islamic banking, he said such banks have the flexibility to adapt to investment initiatives and further encourage Arab and foreign investors to Syria.

Global House is also working on investing more than $100m in Syria in the short term, the focus being on a fully serviced city to include tourism facilities, residential complexes, an aquatic park, health spas, and sporting venues, according to al-Dawsary.

Damascus sees the development of an active Islamic banking sector as a means of boosting the role of private banks in Syria and of attracting finance from the Gulf region. However, it was only in May 2005 that the government passed legislation clearing the way for privately operated banks operating on Islamic principles to set up shop in Syria, and only late last year when the first such bank opened its doors.

Making up for lost time, on March 12 and 13, Damascus played host to the second conference of Islamic financial banks and establishments, a showcase for both Islamic banking and the sector in Syria. Syrian Central Bank Governor Adib Mayala said the event underscored the arrival of Islamic banking in his country.

Syria is now developing a strong and diversified banking system that already has six public banks and seven conventional trading banks operating and a number of applications for licences for new banks under consideration, he said. Three of these private banks operate under the principles of Islamic financing.

Announcing plans for legislation allowing the state to issue treasury bills as part of the programme to further reform public finances and open up the economy, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdallah al-Dardari also talked up the opportunities the Syrian banking sector now enjoys.

"The reforms are on track. We already have a new banking system, unified exchange rates and a more independent central bank. We have come a long way in reforming the banking and financial system," said al-Dardari said on the second day of the conference.

In a move to encourage further investment in Syria's banking system, Syrian Minister of Finance Mohammad Al-Hossoein announced plans at the end of February for more changes to regulations governing the sector. Among these was the requirement for private banks to increase their capital volume to $100m from the previous $30m and for Islamic banks to raise their capital volume from $100m to $200m.

Another incentive for overseas investors in the sector is the plan to allow foreign holdings in Syrian banks to be increased from 46% to 60%.

"These modifications will encourage banks and financial institutions to invest in Syrian banks. They will result in more economic growth and state development," he said in an interview with the local press on February 28.

Some experts put the global assets managed by the Islamic banking sector as high as $350bn. While Syria may be a latecomer to the sector, it is working hard to attract a slice of that wealth.

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Damas adhère au Centre international de règlement des différends

07/2005
La Syrie a adhéré au Centre international de règlement des différends, un organisme affilié au groupe de la Banque mondiale. L’ambassadeur de Syrie à Washington, Imad Moustapha, a officialisé l’adhésion le 25 mai, au nom du gouvernement syrien, et a remis les instruments nécessaires à la ratification le 8 juin.

Cette signature marque une nouvelle étape dans le rétablissement progressif des relations entre la Syrie et les institutions liées à la Banque mondiale. Ce processus vise à rétablir la confiance des investisseurs étrangers.

En juillet 2002, la Syrie avait adhéré à la Miga, l’agence de garantie des investissements multilatéraux. Miga fournit des garanties aux investisseurs étrangers afin de les couvrir contre certains risques, comme l’expropriation, les restrictions aux transferts de capitaux, la violation des contrats, les conflits, etc

.Auparavant, la Société financière internationale, la filiale du groupe Banque mondiale pour le secteur privé, avait relancé ses activités en Syrie en 2000. La SFI a déjà contribué à plusieurs projets en Syrie sous forme de prêts ou de participation au capital. Elle a notamment octroyé un crédit de 13 millions de dollars pour la construction d’une usine pétrochimique en 2002 et elle est entrée à hauteur de 10 % dans le capital de la Banque de Syrie et d’Outre-Mer, une filiale de la Blom libanaise.

Enfin, Damas a achevé de payer ses dettes envers la Banque mondiale, la rendant éligible pour de nouveaux prêts octroyés par l’institution basée à Washington.

Le Centre de règlement des différends a été créé en 1966 pour faciliter des médiations ou des conciliations entre des gouvernements et des investisseurs étrangers. Au cours des dernières années, la Syrie a eu plusieurs conflits de ce type. Le recours aux services du centre reste toutefois facultatif.

www.lasyrie.fr/Economie/Actualites/ Article63_CIRD.htm
En partenariat avec The Syria Report
(Article également publié dans L'Orient le Jour)

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Le gouvernement adopte une loi sur les banques islamiques

05/2005
Le gouvernement syrien a adopté un projet de loi sur les banques islamiques, qui sera prochainement soumis au Parlement.

Les activités des banques islamiques font l’objet d’une loi spéciale car elles ne figurent pas dans la loi n°28 sur les banques privées, adoptée en 2001.
À l’issue de la réunion d’approbation du projet de loi, le ministre des Finances, Mohammed Hussein, a déclaré à la presse que le texte de cette loi spéciale est très proche de celui de la loi n°28, si l’on excepte les articles qui font référence aux activités des banques islamiques.

La principale différence est la condition posée concernant le capital minimum requis pour la création de telles banques : il s’élève à 5 milliards de livres syriennes (l’équivalent de 100 millions de dollars), contre 1,5 milliard de livres pour les banques non islamiques.

Le ministre n’a pas expliqué ce qui a motivé cette différence de traitement.
Plusieurs entreprises ont déjà présenté des demandes de création de banques islamiques auprès des autorités financières syriennes. Le projet le plus avancé est celui de la Qatar International Islamic Bank, en partenariat avec Daaboul Economic Group.
D’autres institutions financières ont manifesté leur intérêt d’investir dans ce domaine : la banque islamique al-Baraka, la Banque islamique de développement, Dalla al-Baraka, la Banque islamique de Dubaï, etc.
Il est encore difficile d’évaluer le potentiel du secteur des banques islamiques en Syrie, mais la plupart des analystes le jugent prometteur. Plusieurs investisseurs syriens ont refusé par exemple de participer au capital de banques qui opèrent déjà sur le territoire syrien, étant donné que les taux d’intérêt sont contraires à la charia islamique.

Cinq établissements privés ont obtenu des licences pour diriger des banques privées en Syrie. Trois d’entre elles ont déjà entamé leurs activités (BSO, BemoSaudiFransi et Housing Bank) et trois autres devraient en faire de même dans les semaines à venir (Bank Audi, Arab Bank, Byblos Bank).

Article paru le 28/04/2005 sur le site www.lasyrie.fr
Sous l'égide du groupe sénatorial France-Syrie

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SEBC lance un organisme de soutien aux PME 

04/2005
Comme le Centre d’affaires syro-européen (SEBC) doit achever sa mission en septembre 2006, un projet destiné à soutenir les petites et moyennes entreprises en Syrie pourrait le remplacer.
Ce nouveau projet syro-européen serait baptisé «Enterprise Syria».
L’objectif sera de « renforcer l’économie syrienne à travers le développement d’un secteur privé novateur, vibrant et confiant en la capacité de la communauté des affaires d’être compétitive sur le marché local et à l’exportation ».
Enterprise Syria devrait voir le jour sous le signe du partenariat public-privé, sous la forme d’une fondation à but non lucratif à laquelle participeraient le ministère de l’Économie et du Commerce, la Fédération des chambres de commerce et d’industrie, ainsi que la Commission de la planification.
L’Union européenne attend que le gouvernement débloque un financement de deux millions d’euros sur une période de quatre ans pour compléter l’engagement européen de 15 millions d’euros et permettre au projet de voir le jour.
Le gouvernement syrien a déjà mis sur la table 35 millions de livres syriennes, un fonds opérationnel initial de 35 millions de livres, et il s’est engagé à fournir les locaux pour abriter les bureaux du nouvel organisme.
Enterprise Syria serait installée à Damas et à Alep et emploierait 20 personnes. Elle serait dirigée par un conseil de surveillance de 40 membres (représentant le gouvernement, les secteurs public et privé, et les bailleurs de fonds) et par un conseil d’administration de neuf membres dont cinq issus du privé.
Les progrès du projet seront mesurés à travers une série de facteurs, dont sa capacité à soutenir la création de nouvelles entreprises au fort potentiel de croissance, d’exportation, d’investissement et d’emploi.
« Je pense que la Syrie ne devrait pas manquer cette occasion », a déclaré Frank Hesske, chef de la délégation de la Commission européenne à Damas. « J’ai bon espoir que le gouvernement et les représentants du secteur privé apprécient l’importance de la création d’une agence nationale dédiée au soutien des PME. »

En partenariat avec The Syria Report
www.syrie.fr

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Finance & banques en Syrie (2003)

La réforme bancaire en Syrie, lancée en avec la ratification de la loi n° 28 qui autorise le retour des banques à capitaux privées après plus de quarante ans de monopole, a connu au cours des derniers mois des avancées significatives.
Après l’annonce d’un accord préalable avec cinq consortiums privés en décembre 2002, l’octroi définitif de trois licences en avril 2003 est venu concrétiser une réforme qui restait encore théorique. Deux projets portés par des banques libanaises, la Bemo (Banque européenne pour le Moyen Orient) et la Blom (Banque du Liban et d’Outre-Mer) ainsi que le dossier défendu par la Housing Bank jordanienne, ayant reçu le feu vert des autorités syriennes, devraient aboutir d’ici un an à l’ouverture des premières banques privées. Un véritable tournant pour le système bancaire syrien qui demeure entre les mains de six établissements publics, et ce depuis la nationalisation du système financier intervenu en 1963.
Parallèlement à la loi n° 28 qui autorise donc des banques privées à intervenir sur le marché (l’actionnariat étranger de ces nouveaux établissements ne doit pas dépasser 49 % du capital), une autre loi (n° 23), ratifiée par décret en mars 2002, instaure le Conseil du crédit et de la monnaie, en charge de la politique monétaire du pays ainsi que de la supervision de tout le secteur bancaire. D’autres mesures récentes (autorisation de comptes bancaires en devises, possibilité de transfert de ces devises, baisse des taux d’intérêt) illustrent la volonté des autorités syriennes de faire évoluer la politique monétaire et financière du pays.
L’objectif est d’atteindre une meilleure allocation des actifs au sein de l’économie, et notamment de mieux financer le secteur privé qui ne bénéficie que de 25 % du total des crédits (source : Les Banques en Syrie 2003. Supplément de The Syria Report 2001) alors qu’il participe à hauteur de 60 % du PIB et même 80 % du PIB industriel hors pétrole.
Jean-François Eyraud

Information transmise gracieusement par le Réseau ANIMA. www.animaweb.org

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