Cabinet discusses economic issues, approves a number of bills

Damascus, SANA – The Cabinet approved a number of bills on modifying some provisions of law no. 1 for 2012 on judicial fees, expenses and insurance within the framework of implementing the judicial reform program.

Another bill that requires people who possess undeclared imported gold ingots to pay due charges and fees was also approved during the Cabinet’s weekly session chaired by Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi.

The Cabinet discussed several economic, industrial and services issues which affect citizens’ living conditions, with Premier al-Halaqi stressing that the electricity sector will witness significant improvements due to the increase of gas flow to power plants.

He underlined the government’s efforts to facilitate providing fuel and gas to citizens, indicating that new measures will be taken in this regard.

The premier called upon the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources to ensure the availability of oil derivatives in all provinces, stressing the importance of coordination between the ministries of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Economy and Internal Trade, and Consumer Protection along with the General Establishment for Storage and Marketing and the Syrian Exporters Union to market citrus crops inside and outside Syrian markets.

He also stressed the government’s continuous efforts to maintain the stability of the SYP/USD exchange rate and curbing speculators and those who tamper with the exchange rate.

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriate Minister Walid al-Moallem briefed the cabinet on the latest political development in the international arena.

In turn, Minister of Social Affairs Kinda al-Shammat reviewed the Ministry’s national plan to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

For his part, Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Hassan Safiyeh highlighted the ministry’s procedures to control bus fees, while Governor of the Central Bank of Syria Adib Mayaleh said that the bill on gold ingots is restricted to gold bars whose weights range between 1/2 kg and 1kg or the 10 tola gold bar, which is equivalent to 116.64g, noting that this bill came at the request of goldsmiths.

Rasha Raslan / Hazem Sabbagh

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