Syrian companies are struggling with the abundance of imported goods and the stumbling of the economy economy

Companies in the parts of Syria, which were under the control of the Assad regime, are struggling to sell their goods with large quantities of cheap imports that undermine local producers, which sparked widespread anger over the new government’s move to reduce customs tariffs on imports, according to the British Financial Times.

Foreign goods, which were restricted for years, were allowed to enter the country in January after the fall of Bashar al -Assad’s regime last December.

In light of the rule of Assad, most commodities were produced locally or smuggled through a system of taxes, fees and exorbitant fines, which increased the cost sharply, and the lack of electricity means that companies were forced to pay exorbitant amounts for energy.

Temporary closure

Some companies chose to temporarily close their stores instead of selling goods with heavy losses, highlighting the challenge facing the new government in reviving the broken economy and preserving social stability.

One of the car dealers said that the car costing $ 10,000 in Beirut, for example, was sold for $ 60,000 in Syria under Assad’s rule, but it has now been sold for $ 11,500.

“Two months ago, all the products were in the market Syria. Today, the ready -made product from Türkiye is cheaper,” the British newspaper quoted a banker residing in Damascus as saying.

A businessman in the field of textiles in the capital said he expected consumers eventually that imported products are less quality “but by that time the market will have been broken, and many factories that have not been able to withstand business loss have closed their doors.”

Economy liberalization

Since assuming the reins of affairs, the new government in Syria has sought to liberate the broken economy to push economic growth and help rebuild a 13 -year -old country of war.

According to the newspaper, while many of the lion were happier, it also brought a new set of problems to companies that survived the war and the parasitic system.

Initially, imports were returned to the areas that were under the control of Assad previously, as the residents found themselves able to buy lost goods for a long time from stores, such as soft drinks with foreign marks and French cheese.

But this enthusiasm did not last long, as the cash liquidity crisis has occurred throughout the country and the slowdown in the local trade activity of people’s purchasing power.

The government’s rapid relief for import restrictions caused discontent with local manufacturing companies in the areas that were under the control of the regime previously, including the capital, Damascus, in the south.

Many business owners said they did not oppose the reducing customs tariffs, but they said that the cuts should have been slower and smaller to save companies from the heavy losses.

Due to the high cost of energy in Damascus, they said it would be difficult to compete with Turkish companies unless you get some support from the definitions of imported goods.

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The newspaper quoted an alcohol manufacturer as saying: “They sell 60 to 70% cheaper goods.” All his operations have stopped since December.

While companies complained in the areas governed by Assad from low fees, the imposition of any definitions of anger Idlib, as the residents have long been accustomed to the customs free flow of cheap Turkish imports across the border.

The banker residing in Damascus warned that the industries that were previously the backbone of the Syrian economy that was darkened, such as drugs, are now in danger, and said: “If they opened the way for (imports) of the drugs, then this sector will be removed.”