Syria		Info-Prod Country Guide
CHARACTERISTICS  INDICATORS  THE ECONOMY  INVESTMENT ISSUES  PROJECTS  PROSPECTS

Contents

Economic Review Principal Commercial and Political Characteristics General Commercial Outlook Political Outlook Economic Indicators The Economy Foreign Aid Foreign Debt Exchange Rates Reform  Principal Economic Sectors Industry Agriculture Tourism  Current and Projected Projects Franchising Best Business Prospects     NOTICE The information presented here was last updated in 1998.  For more up to date information, please contact us

Legal Review Judiciary General Courts of General Jurisdiction Recognition of Foreign Judgements Alternative Dispute Resolution  Business Forms and Structures Companies Law     General      Shareholding Companies     Limited Liability Company Partnerships     General     General Partnership     Limited Partnership Joint Ventures Branch Offices  Commercial Agency Currency and Banking  Foreign Currency Control Banking Intellectual Property General Patents Trademarks Copyright  Taxation General Taxation of Companies Taxation of Individuals  Other Taxes     Tax on Income from Moveable Capital     Real Property Tax     Stamp Duty Treaties for the Preventation of Double Taxation Investment and Trade Issues Investment Incentives     Encouragement of Investment Law Incentives for the Tourism Industry Trade Regulations Free Trade Zones Trade Agreements Customs  Private Sector Investment Public Sector Procurement Environmental Law

IN BRIEF: Population 15.5 million (1998) Religions 69% Sunni Muslim, 11% Shi'ite, 20% Christian (various sects), Druze and other. Government Presidential Republic  Languages  Arabic (English and French are widely spoken; Kurdish is spoken among the Kurd minority). Work Week Commercial: Saturday - Thursday 8:00 - 13:00;  16:00 - 19:00 Public Sector: Saturday - Thursday 8:00 - 14:30 Banking: Sunday - Thursday 8:00 - 14:00 Monetary Unit Syrian Pounds (SP) Exchange Rate SP 42/US$ 1