Syria Today | World Bank encourages public-private transport partnerships

World Bank encourages public-private transport partnerships

The Syrian Transportation Ministry held a two-day workshop on February 4 to develop partnerships between Syria’s public and private sectors for carrying out major transport infrastructure projects.

During the workshop, which was held in cooperation with the World Bank, speakers stressed the importance of international funding to carry out infrastructure projects.

The ministry presented a comprehensive study on Syria’s transport sector and acquiring the technical support necessary for introducing new models of transport investment. The workshop also discussed ways to improve transportation inside Syrian cities, in addition to reorganising previously suggested transport projects.

“To achieve the target growth rate included in the Tenth Five-Year Plan, the country’s transportation sector needs investments with a value of SYP 180bn,” Transportation Minister Ya’arub Badr said. “Half of this should be provided by the private sector.”

World Bank Middle East and North Africa department director al-Hadi al-Arabi said the bank is willing to support joint public and private infrastructural transport projects.

“Many transport projects could be carried out through public-private partnerships, including the north-south highway running from the Turkish border to the Jordanian border and the east-west highway linking Tartous seaport with the Iraqi border,” he said. “Such projects could also include upgrading Damascus’ railway network, expanding the country’s seaports and building a new hall in Damascus International Airport.”