Syria, Germany Sign Banking Training Cooperation Deal

Syrian-German Dialogue Session

Syria's Central Bank Governor, Safwat Rslan, held a dialogue session on the sidelines of the roundtable meeting with the Syrian-German Business Council, to discuss opportunities and challenges of joint investment and economic cooperation between the two countries. The session addressed ways to create a suitable investment environment for German companies and strengthen cooperation with Syrian firms.

The session was attended by official and diplomatic representatives from both sides, along with representatives of the Syrian-German Business Council and a number of companies and economic entities, and covered key areas of trade and economic cooperation between Syria and Germany.

Upcoming Sectoral Working Groups

The session is set to be followed by specialized working groups covering several sectors, including water and energy, aimed at producing practical recommendations to be submitted to decision-makers, in order to activate and strengthen economic and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Agreement to Develop Banking Expertise

Syria's Central Bank signed a cooperation agreement with Frankfurt University of Finance and Management, and Germany's development bank KfW, aimed at developing banking expertise and building the capacity of workers in the sector.

• Delivery of training programs and specialized expertise for Central Bank of Syria staff and banking sector employees generally
• Programs funded by Germany's KfW development bank
• Implementation period of three years

The agreement marks the first cooperation between the Central Bank of Syria's Banking Training and Qualification Center and Frankfurt University of Finance and Management.

Implications for the Banking Sector

The agreement extends beyond direct training to supporting institutional capacity building for Syria's banking sector, drawing on international expertise and standards over a three-year period. Developing banking competencies is tied to the ongoing restructuring of the financial sector, particularly regarding risk management, governance and banking services, and preparing the sector to engage with international institutions and markets.

By bringing together official bodies and companies, the roundtable serves as a channel for turning investment discussions into practical recommendations and actions, particularly in sectors such as water and energy.