More Companies Shut Down in Syria’s Regime-Run Areas

A general view of Damascus in 2018 (Reuters)
A general view of Damascus in 2018 (Reuters)
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More Companies Shut Down in Syria’s Regime-Run Areas

A general view of Damascus in 2018 (Reuters)
A general view of Damascus in 2018 (Reuters)

Areas controlled by the Syrian regime have witnessed the liquidation of 50 companies in the last three months, reported the government-aligned Al-Watan daily.

This is equivalent to 75% of the total number of companies that have dissolved themselves since the beginning of 2022, which amounted to 79 companies, according to the director of companies at the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection of the regime, Zain Safi.

Al-Watan also said that the owners of the dissolved companies refused to comment to the media about the reasons their businesses were shut down.

Hassan Hazouri, a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics at Aleppo University, believes that the regime’s policies have transformed the Syrian economy from a productive economy to a service economy.

It did that by encouraging sectors such as tourism and trade, at the expense of real production sectors such as agriculture and industry.

Hazouri further criticized Damascus’ ill-considered policies when it comes to resolving economic problems. These policies have ruined the economic standing of Syria further, which prompted an exodus of local businesses.

Moreover, many business owners in Syria were forced to either permanently or temporarily shut down their operations. Those who didn’t sell or liquidate their business, left their company working at minimum capacity.

Last September, Syrian businessman Ayman Bergenjiki, owner of Indomie Syria, announced that the factories producing the instant noodles have permanently ceased operations in Syria. He then reversed this declaration by indicating that it could potentially resume work.

Last week, local media also reported the closure of about 25% of dairy and cheese production workshops and facilities. The closure came as the dollar exchange rate exceeded the threshold of SYP 5,000.

The rise in the dollar exchange rate in Syria has produced market turmoil and a hike in production costs.



Hamas Says No Point in Further Gaza Truce Talks

FILE PHOTO: A Palestinian man inspects the house where Palestinian newlywed Hala Zaarab was killed in an Israeli airstrike, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, May 3, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Palestinian man inspects the house where Palestinian newlywed Hala Zaarab was killed in an Israeli airstrike, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, May 3, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo
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Hamas Says No Point in Further Gaza Truce Talks

FILE PHOTO: A Palestinian man inspects the house where Palestinian newlywed Hala Zaarab was killed in an Israeli airstrike, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, May 3, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Palestinian man inspects the house where Palestinian newlywed Hala Zaarab was killed in an Israeli airstrike, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, May 3, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo

A senior Hamas official said Tuesday the group was no longer interested in truce talks with Israel and urged the international community to halt Israel's "hunger war" against Gaza.

"There is no sense in engaging in talks or considering new ceasefire proposals as long as the hunger war and extermination war continue in the Gaza Strip," Basem Naim told AFP.

He said the world must pressure the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the "crimes of hunger, thirst, and killings" in Gaza.

The comments by Naim, a Hamas political bureau member and former Gaza health minister, came a day after Israel's military said expanded operations in Gaza would include displacing "most" of its population.