Norway plans to contribute 90 million Norwegian kroner, about $9.5 million, to a new World Bank multi-donor fund for Syria’s reconstruction, Syria TV reported Friday, citing a Norwegian Foreign Ministry statement issued Wednesday.
The fund is intended to support essential sectors, particularly health and energy, and is expected to begin operating during 2026, according to the statement.
At an Arab Group meeting with World Bank President Ajay Banga in Bangkok, Syrian Finance Minister Mohamad Yisr Barnieh welcomed the fund and preparations for a new partnership strategy. He called for a stronger International Finance Corporation role in encouraging private investment, SANA reported.
Separate talks with Qatar covered support for the fund. The Syrian Finance Ministry said Norway was particularly interested in healthcare and the goal of universal health coverage by 2030.
Barnieh also discussed technical cooperation and proposed infrastructure financing with Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan, who supported accelerating project assessments. The ministers considered agreements to transfer financial expertise; SANA did not report that those agreements had been signed.
Sources: SANA report 1; SANA report 2; SANA report 3; Syria TV
Finance officials attend meetings in Bangkok. Photo: SANA.
