Syrian Presidency issues directive to rationalize public spending

The General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic has issued a directive to all ministries and public entities to implement strict measures for rationalizing public spending. Based on a proposal from the Ministry of Finance, the directive aims to enhance fiscal discipline and resource efficiency in response to regional geopolitical shifts and rising energy and transport costs.

Key measures include a 30% reduction in fuel allocations (gasoline and diesel) for government vehicles, excluding public transport, emergency services like ambulances and fire engines, and vehicles with low monthly allocations. The directive also mandates a freeze on non-essential administrative expenses, such as official travel, foreign missions, conferences, hospitality, and the purchase or replacement of office furniture and administrative vehicles.

Furthermore, the government will review existing and future investment projects, prioritizing those with high economic and social impact while potentially delaying non-urgent ones. The Ministry of Finance emphasized that these austerity measures are designed to protect essential services—including health, education, water, and energy—and will not affect civil servant salaries or wages.