Syrian Trade Establishment: A step towards the private sector ...Syria

Enab Baladi – Lama Diab

The Syrian Trade Establishment has been offering its halls for investment in several Syrian provinces since the end of April, marking an economic shift aimed at strengthening the private sector and restructuring the public sector to ensure development.

The deputy general director of the Syrian Trade Establishment, Muadh Hendawi, told Enab Baladi that the ready halls will be offered for investment through public auctions, in accordance with the principle of equal opportunity, with announcements made at specific times for each hall separately.

This mechanism allows all citizens wishing to rent to participate, thereby enhancing transparency and positive competition among investors, according to Hendawi.

Regarding the duration of rental contracts and the determination of rental value, Hendawi explained that contracts are initially concluded for two years for halls that are less than 120 square meters. As for the rental value, it is based on a real estate appraisal carried out by a specialized committee that takes into account prices of similar properties in the vicinity of the hall.

The final price is determined through public bidding, ensuring that a fair market value is achieved for the state, while providing the investor with the flexibility to assess the feasibility of the project.

The establishment has set a number of conditions that investors must meet, as part of its commitment to ensuring seriousness and efficiency in the investment of commercial halls, according to Hendawi, which include:

The purpose of these procedures is to enhance transparency and ensure the lessee’s capability to manage the hall professionally and effectively, according to Hendawi.

Syrian Trade Establishment does not procure crops

Regarding the Syrian Trade Establishment’s role in supporting farmers and marketing crops, Hendawi clarified that the establishment no longer engages in direct agricultural trade activities at present. However, the Ministry of Economy continues its role in organizing work in market places and monitoring price movements through its regulatory and supervisory arms, achieving market balance, enhancing fair competition, and preventing monopolies, benefiting both producers and consumers.

In light of the entity’s cessation of agricultural trade activities, investors have full freedom to manage their business activities according to legal frameworks, while adhering to the regulations and oversight exercised by the Ministry of Economy through Consumer Protection Directorates, according to Hendawi, considering this approach as part of market liberalization and energizing the business environment.

Hendawi explained that the guarantees that the ministry will provide to ensure farmers are not exploited include continuing its supervisory and organizational role in all markets, through publishing price surveillance reports and enhancing the work of Consumer Protection Directorates, ensuring market control and combating any monopolistic practices that may harm either the producer or consumer.

He pointed out that the ministry is working on opening alternative marketing channels for farmers, amid the shift towards granting the private sector a greater role in marketing products, by supporting exports, providing facilities for products to enter local markets directly, in addition to monitoring any monopolistic practices that may harm their interests, ensuring fair prices and a dynamic and stable marketing environment.

Hendawi affirmed that the Ministry of Economy will not abandon its responsibility to support farmers but is currently working on developing the tools of this support by opening new markets, improving marketing mechanisms, and providing the necessary facilities and exemptions to ensure the continuity of the agricultural cycle, preserve national food security, and enhance farmers’ income, encouraging them to continue production.

Public auctions for selling goods

Branches of the Syrian Trade Establishment began selling their goods through public auctions in February, following a prior decision to dissolve the authority in January.

The director of the Syrian Trade Establishment, Amer Qasoum, explained to Enab Baladi in a previous statement that the majority of goods were under dubious and illegal contracts and deals, believed to be part of money laundering operations benefiting the remnants of the previous regime.

Some goods in the warehouses were approaching expiration, necessitating measures to liquidate the remaining goods in accordance with the applicable laws, while ensuring the safety of procedures and protecting the public interest, according to Qasoum.

The interim Syrian government had issued a decision in early January to abolish the Syrian Trade Establishment and freeze all its operations and institutions for reconsideration.

What is the Syrian Trade Establishment?

The previous regime founded the Syrian Trade Establishment in early 2017 by merging two institutions: the General Consumption Institution and the General Storage and Marketing Institution, aiming for what was described as “positive intervention,” by entering the market and competing with the private sector in providing goods at lower prices.

The Syrian Trade Establishment was responsible for trading consumer and staple goods, textile products, agricultural products, both animal and plant, in addition to importing and exporting goods and services.

The Syrian Trade Establishment owns about 1,500 halls distributed across various Syrian provinces.

Syrian Trade Establishment: A step towards the private sector Enab Baladi.

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