Economy Today

 

An expanded meeting chaired by Prime Minister Eng. Emad Khamis adopted a stimulus package to boost the crafts sector, expand its production and organization, and provide legislative and logistical support to it to be a real partner in stimulating local production and developing small and medium enterprises that form the backbone of the Syrian economy.

 

 The meeting, which is considered the sixth with the craftsmen, laid out a development and investment expansion map for the craft industries according to the needs of each governorate, taking into account the advantages it enjoys, and developing the existing crafts in quantity and quality to help craftsmen cover the needs of local and export markets.

 

It was decided during the meeting to support the export of handicraft products to enable them to target new foreign markets, and to consider the inclusion of the crafts sector in the program to support the interest of loans, study the draft law of tax exemptions for craftsmen in the affected areas, and support the participation of the crafts sector in specialized foreign fairs and develop an integrated marketing and promotion plan to introduce the industries. Craftsmanship and comparative advantages enjoyed globally.

 

The Union of Artisans was asked to coordinate with the concerned authorities to submit proposals at the governorate level to establish incubators of traditional crafts that reflect the cultural identity of Syria, starting with the governorates of Damascus and Aleppo, and provide the necessary facilities to help preserve and preserve the Syrian heritage.

 

The Ministers of Education, Higher Education and Industry were tasked with studying the draft decision on placement of the first graduates from the industrial high schools and technical institutes in the Union of Artisans free of charge and giving them priority in obtaining the necessary loans to establish their own projects and encourage them to start production.

 

During the meeting, a working group was formed to present a study related to the joining of all craft workshops by registering in the Union of Craftsmen and providing the necessary incentives in order to help combat the shadow economy and invest the components of the craft sector in an optimal way, in parallel with the administrative units to collect the necessary data about the craft workshops within the scope of its management. Facilitates any future plans aimed at developing this sector at the governorate level.

 

It was also decided to install the necessary electrical transformers to ensure the electricity supply to the craft divisions in the Kfarbo area, to study the appropriate executive mechanism for the renewal of the quarries' licenses in Hassia and the development of this industry, which is of particular importance in the reconstruction phase, and to accelerate the completion of the handicrafts in the industrial zone in Sweida Governorate and distribute them to subscribers. And provide the requirements for the return of craftsmen to their places of work in the eastern provinces and direct production to support development efforts in the region. It was agreed to develop a support plan to secure electricity and contribute to the completion of the infrastructure of craft areas in Jibreen and Ramousa in Aleppo governorate as a prelude to launching it, in addition to studying the difficulties of launching craft exchanges in the industrial city of Aleppo, which contains approximately 5138 crafts exchanges for discussion in the Council of Ministers. And find appropriate solutions.

 

As for the support of the goldsmiths industry, the Minister of Local Administration was asked to study the facilities that should be provided to support the efforts of the goldsmiths association to establish the "Gold City" project in Aleppo, which includes garages, restaurants and goldsmiths shops through securing land for them after determining the time required for them, and to provide the necessary planning studies for the establishment. Specialized industrial zones for goldsmith workshops in the governorates, starting with the governorates of Damascus and Aleppo

 

. Eng. Khamis reiterated the importance of supporting small and medium enterprises that play a big role in economic and social development and constitute a real safety valve for our economy in the face of the crises imposed by the war on the development of local production and employment generation, pointing at the same time our responsibility to save and document Our civilizational heritage, especially after the great terrorist destruction and theft and looting witnessed in our archaeological and urban monuments, which requires providing the necessary support for the traditional crafts and doing everything that would prevent their extinction and ensure its transmission to future generations.

 

It was stressed the need to implement training programs to provide craftsmen with the skills necessary to develop their methods of work and expand their industries as well as two types and secure the raw materials for traditional crafts that directly automate the craft sector, and continue to rehabilitate craft areas affected by terrorism and attract craftsmen leaving abroad to revive their industries.