Regime approves 2015 General budget as the highest in Syria's history

Reporting by Eyad Al Ja’afari; Writing by Yusra Ahmed

(Zaman Al Wasl-Eqtsad)- The Syrian Regime’s Government approved on Tuesday the draft budget of 2015 with S.P 1554 Billion, as well it discussed the budget’s plans for next year.

This budget is considered the highest in Syria’s history if it only was taken in Syria pounds, however turning it into US Dollar, it showed that it is less than a half of 2011’s budget, and a Billion Syrian pound less than last year’s budget.

In number, the announced budget is equal to USD.8.1 Billion, at SP.190 for a Dollar. However, in 2011, the budget was USD.17.3 Billion at SP.48 for a Dollar at the time, and the recent year’s “2014” budget is around 9.2 Billion

To explain this reduction in the budget, some experts think that regime reduced it because it had lost control for wide area of Syria, especially the Eastern North Area, practically, regime only controls Damascus and a narrow way connect it with Hama , Homs and the Coast, beside small areas of Aleppo and Idlib. Therefore, spending has decreased, leading to reduce budget.

On the other hand, other think that losing important sources of petrol and agricultural resources especially in the Eastern regions, reduced the government’s sources for fund, which resulted in real reduction in the budget.

the Syrian Regime’s Government did not put detailed description of the budget, As it is expected to be decided within a month from now, later. it will be agreed in the parliament, to be announced by Bashar al-Assad through a presidential decree.