Syrian Economic Dialogue National Forum kicks off

The Economic Dialogue National Forum kicked off on Sunday at Conferences Palace in Damascus, with the participation of 300 figures representing the social spectrums as well as social, economic and scientific bodies. The forum comes as part of the reform process to enhance dialogue on national issues on the basis of partnership and collective responsibility to materialize a joint vision on the economic and social reform-related. In a speech delivered during the Forum, Prime Minister, Dr. Adel Safar said that the Forum is the fruit of extensive dialogues with the participation of all the social and economic and scientific segments in all the provinces. Safar underlined the importance of the popular participation in addressing national issues and crystallizing a common vision that would help adopting practical reform measures in implementation of President Bashar al-Assad's directions. He stressed that the reform is an integrated process in its political, media, judicial and administrative dimensions, adding that the economic reform is a part of a more comprehensive process. He added "It is a natural result that the Syrian economy is affected by the international economic changes and developments, therefore, we must remove all the obstacles which hinder the growth of the national economy and its competitive and export capabilities. He pointed out that the process of economic reform doesn't start from zero point as Syria achieved a great progress during the 10th five-year plan and the Government has worked on achieving the gradual shift towards the social market economy in the framework of the partnership principle between the private and public sectors. He affirmed that the principles and directions of the economic reform will continue and what is required in this stage is to review the economic and social policy in a way that would guarantee a harmony between the economic competence and the social justice, in addition to following up the effects of these policies on the life of the citizens in general and on the citizens who have low income in particular. "If we want our economy to be strong and competitive on the international level, we must liberate it from some of the burdens which restrict it," Safar said, calling for reconsidering the support mechanisms and the services within more accurate programs. He added that the Government has worked over the past few months on achieving a huge package of reform measures in cooperation with national cadres from all the spectrums, stressing that the notes, suggestions and topics to be discussed during the Forum will enrich the reform programs and would support the Economic and Social Reform Committee in materializing a reform vision that would rebalance the economic approaches. He affirmed that the Government works on overcoming all the legal, administrative and social obstacles facing the reform process, adding that the foreign conspiracies aim at destabilizing Syria and undermining its economic potential. He affirmed that facing the challenges which have become noticeably limited entails from all the Syrians to shoulder their national responsibility, adding that the awareness of the Syrian people and their national unity are the best way to go forward in the process of building and reform.