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Syria appoints first woman to lead central bank

Dec 31, 2024, 10:28am EST
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The central bank of Syria building.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Syria’s interim government appointed longtime central bank official Maysaa Sabrine to lead the institution, making her the first woman to do so in the bank’s more than seven decade-history.

The former rebel militants now running the country have said they want to shift Syria to a free-market economy, but their goals will be near-impossible without the West removing sanctions, a Syrian economist told The New York Times.

At a time when every decision is being closely watched at home and abroad, Sabrine’s appointment could bode well as a sign of inclusive governance, an Atlantic Council expert told The Wall Street Journal.

The new administration faces a mammoth set of challenges as it seeks to rebuild a war-shattered economy. Syria ranks among the 10 most food insecure countries globally, with nearly one-third of Syrians estimated to be living in extreme poverty, and inflation on basic consumer goods remains high.

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