Presidential decree issued to exempt agricultural loans in Syria from interest, fines

Syrian President Hafez al-Assad has issued presidential decree no. 2 for the year 2000, which was approved by the People's Assembly (parliament) during its session held on March 30.

The law exempted agricultural loans from interest and delay fines due until the end of the current year. It also provides for settling the balances of agricultural loans in terms of annual installments for five years.

The term "balances of agricultural loans" means the origin of the loan (capital) obtained from the country's banks and funds.

Commenting on the new law, the minister of agriculture, Asaad Mustafa, told SANA in a statement that the law is a great achievement for the country's farmers and agriculture producers, aiming among other things at helping farmers, improving agricultural conditions and backing the country's agricultural sector and its national economy.