g Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 FAX:
[1] (202) 234-9548 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Theodore H. KATTOUF embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2,
Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus telephone: [963] (11)
333-1342 FAX: [963] (11) 331-9678

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white,
and black, with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal
line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which
has a plain white band, and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus
an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered
in the white band

Economy Syria

Economy - overview: Syria's predominantly statist economy has been
growing slower than its 2.5% annual population growth rate, causing a
persistent decline in per capita GDP. President Bashar AL-ASAD has made
little progress on the economic front after one year in office, but does
appear willing to permit a gradual strengthening of the private sector.
His most obvious accomplishment to this end was the recent passage
of legislation allowing private banks to operate in Syria, although a
private banking sector will take years and further government cooperation
to develop. ASAD's recent cabinet reshuffle may improve his chances of
implementing further growth-oriented policies, although external factors
such as the international war on terrorism, the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, and downturn in oil prices could weaken the foreign investment
and government revenues Syria needs to flourish. A long-run economic
constraint is the pressure on water supplies caused by rapid population
growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $54.2 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 2% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 27% industry: 23% services:
50% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line: 15%-25%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (2001 est.)

Labor force: 4.7 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry 20%, services 40%
(1996 est.)

Unemployment rate: 20% (2000 est.)

Budge