Syria Secures First World Bank Project in 40 Years

In a development signaling a potential shift in Syria’s international financial engagement, the Syrian government has signed the final documentation for a World Bank–funded project to rehabilitate the country’s electricity transmission lines, the first such project approved for Syria in nearly forty years.

Syrian Finance Minister Mohammad Yasar Barniya confirmed on Thursday that the agreement marks a historic milestone in the government’s efforts to restore essential infrastructure after years of conflict. He emphasized that the project is funded through a grant rather than a loan, easing financial pressure on state institutions while supporting the Ministry of Energy’s efforts to stabilize and strengthen the national power grid.

According to Barniya, additional cooperation with the World Bank is already underway. Several new projects across various sectors are being prepared, all of which will also be financed through grants. Details of these programs are expected to be announced in the coming year.

The new agreement follows the World Bank’s approval in June of a $146 million grant dedicated to repairing Syria’s electricity transmission network, representing the institution’s first engagement in the country since the mid-1980s.

As Syria continues to grapple with chronic power shortages and widespread infrastructure damage, officials view the renewed partnership with the World Bank as a crucial step toward revitalizing the economy and improving public services.