Syrian economy will record a three percent growth rate in the year 2001 compared with 0.5 percent in 2000, an economists at the Tuesday Economic Forum forecasted, adding that an average 3.5 percent growth in expected for the following years, especially if oil prices and agricultural output continue to rise, reported Al-Watan.
The same source related this anticipated growth to new government economic policies, which enhance the stability of the national economy. In addition, the recently signed free trade accords with Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Lebanon improved the performance of the Syrian economy.
Although the government raised the level of salaries and wages by 25 percent earlier this year, the local rate of unemployment is still high, asserted the analyst, adding that that the number of unemployed at present is estimated at 450,000. — (Mena Report)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
