VOL. XLIII

No. 17

24-April-2000

SYRIA

Syria Publishes Balanced Budget For 1999, Approves 2000 Budget

Even though Syria has suffered from a recession since 1998 due to declining oil revenue, a steady drop in exports and a severe drought which has damaged agriculture production and exports, the official Syrian budget for 1999 recorded a 7.58% increase in total government expenditure and revenues which are balanced from S237.30bn ($5.17bn) in 1998 to S255.30bn ($5.56bn). In addition, the...