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The Syrian Ministry of Finance reported that the decision follows a meeting between Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh, Central Bank of Syria Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan and Ali Al Hosani, executive director of the IMF’s Arab Group. The talks took place on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Group annual meetings in Bangkok, Thailand. According to the ministry, the officials reviewed joint projects with the IMF, with a focus on technical assistance, capacity building and preparations for Article IV consultations that assess member states’ economic policies.
Syria joined the Russian Federation constituency in the IMF in 2012, the ministry’s statement noted. The return to the Arab Group marks a realignment of the country’s representation within the fund. IMF documentation shows that the organisation’s 190 member countries form constituencies to elect executive directors to its board, with groups varying in size and often reflecting regional or economic ties.
The Arab Group constituency provides coordinated representation for several nations in the Middle East and North Africa, an IMF factsheet on its governance structures indicated. In the meeting, Barnieh expressed anticipation for the Arab Office to support and monitor ongoing files with the IMF, the ministry said. Al Hosani confirmed the Arab Group’s commitment to following up on existing matters with Syrian institutions, according to the statement.
This step forms part of wider engagement by Syrian officials at the annual meetings. The Syrian Arab News Agency reported that the delegation held separate discussions with the World Bank on expanding support for economic recovery, including plans to open a World Bank office in Syria in January 2027. Syrian finance authorities have received 493 million dollars in grants from the World Bank’s International Development Association for sectors including electricity, healthcare and public finance, the agency added.
The ministry has also pursued enhanced cooperation on capacity development with the IMF’s Institute for Capacity Development. In related talks on October 14, 2026, officials addressed training programs for fiscal and monetary policy as well as improvements to economic forecasting and statistics, the Syrian Arab News Agency stated. These efforts align with Syria’s push for institutional reforms following more than a decade of conflict, though the ministry did not release specific projections for economic indicators.
Syrian representatives additionally met with the Islamic Development Bank to discuss settlement of outstanding obligations, paving the way for renewed infrastructure financing, SANA reported from the Bangkok meetings. Barnieh told the Group of 24 ministerial gathering that the country is accelerating economic and financial reforms while creating an investment-friendly environment, the ministry said in its update.
