The Syrian Ministry of Economy and Industry announced on Sunday, August 3, that it is now permitting the export of used machinery and production lines, under a set of regulatory guidelines and procedures.
According to the decision issued by the Minister of Economy and Industry, Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar, industrial facilities wishing to export must obtain an official letter from the relevant Directorate of Industry confirming ownership of the machinery or production lines intended for export. These machines must legally belong to the industrial facility, even if they were previously used in production.
The decision, as reported by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), allows export in two cases:
-
Submission of a customs declaration proving that the trader imported the used machinery or production lines.
-
Presentation of a sales contract proving the trader’s ownership of the equipment, provided the contract is officially documented.
The decision affirms that exporting used machinery and production lines does not require additional customs procedures if the equipment was originally granted customs exemptions upon import. In such cases, customs duties and export fees will be collected by the General Authority for Land and Maritime Ports according to the approved tariff schedule.
Stimulating the National Economy
The Director of the Media Office at the Ministry of Economy and Industry, Hassan al-Ahmad, told Enab Baladi that this decision is part of the ministry’s broader strategy to stimulate the national economy by enabling industrial facilities to make use of idle machinery and turn it into a viable economic resource.
Regarding which industrial sectors may benefit from the decision, al-Ahmad explained that several sectors are expected to gain, particularly those that continuously update their equipment. These include the food, textile, engineering, and plastics industries, as many of these facilities have old production lines that have been replaced with more modern equipment.
These facilities can now legally export their machinery to foreign markets—especially to countries in need of industrial equipment at lower costs. al-Ahmad noted that opening this channel provides an additional boost to Syria’s export activity.
He added that the Ministry of Economy and Industry is working in coordination with several bodies to ensure the decision is implemented according to strict regulations. These include the Customs Directorate, the General Authority for Taxes and Fees, and the Chambers of Industry and Commerce.
According to al-Ahmad, the decision aims to support the modernization process within facilities while also offering a new export resource that brings in foreign currency. He emphasized that this shift marks a departure from the policies of the previous regime, under which the export of such machinery was prohibited.
The post The Syrian Ministry of Economy Allows Export of Used Machinery and Production Lines appeared first on Enab Baladi.