Syria's economy minister: decisions will show result very soon

Syria's Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Ghasan al-Refaee, declared on Saturday that his ministry had taken a number of decisions which would take part in improving the economic performance as well as facilitating and simplifying foreign trade procedures.

In a press conference held at his ministry, Refai outlined his ministry's perspectives as far as foreign trade procedures and measures are concerned and pointed out that the economy ministry is about to issue a number of decisions, at the beginning of the new year, regarding encouraging exports and facilitating imports of goods including the cancellation of the export licenses which were in effect so far.

Regarding the private banks, Refai underlined that the decision for opening private banks has been made and action is taking place fast, expecting authorization for private banks would be issued during the first quarter of the 2003.