Syria's economy is passing by significant stage, Dardari

The economy in Syria and the developing process are passing thorough a very important stage taking into consideration the need to merge into the international economy, Chairman of the State Planning Commission said today.

"Syria's economy is sound and strong and one of its main aims now is to turn from depending on agriculture and oil into an economy counting on productivity, services, and value added industry," he said.

In a press conference, Abdullah al-Dardari said the five-year plan is aimed at increasing the growth rate, and that Syria has been capable of attracting investments of about $ 4 billion, while unemployment level dropped, and Arab and foreign tourists numbers have seen a remarkable increase.

He described ties with Lebanon as "very strong" and there was a paper to boost economic ties noting that these ties are "complementary and necessary." "Many accords started to move in a positive direction atop of which is the natural gas which has been extended to reach to the factory of Deir Ammar in Lebanon today coming from Syria," the Syrian economic official said.

Dardari is attending the fifth session of the social developing committee of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia ESCWA meetings in Beirut.