IMF Observes Slight Surplus in 2025 Budget and Slowdown of Inflation in Syria

IMF Mission Findings and Economic Recovery Signs

The visit of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Ron van Rooden, to Damascus in February 2026 showed signs of a gradual economic recovery in Syria. The IMF confirmed in its concluding statement that the central government's 2025 budget recorded a slight surplus, resulting from rationalized spending and the Ministry of Finance's restraint from deficit financing from the Central Bank. The statement noted that the Central Bank maintained a tight monetary stance, which contributed to a slowdown in inflation rates and a relative improvement in the Syrian pound's exchange rate. The IMF also announced an agreement on a technical assistance program to support financial reforms, including developing public debt management and updating financial legislation, paving the way for the resumption of "Article IV" consultations and restoring investor and public confidence in the banking system and the Syrian economy.