Improving Export Incentives and the Free Zone System in Syria

This paper aims to review the export incentives currently implemented in Syria including the free zone system, identify the main weaknesses, and suggest measures to strengthen them. In particular, drawing on the best practices around the world, it explores ways to introduce a duty and tax relief scheme, manufacturing under bond arrangements, and an export processing zone system in Syria's trade regime, and to re-orient the free zones to maximize their contribution to the Syrian economy. The rest of the paper is organized as follows: section two makes a case for development of an effective export incentive system to eliminate the anti-export bias in Syria's trade regime and foster its international competitiveness. Section three provides a summary of the main instruments of export incentives that are widely used worldwide and will be appropriate for Syria to implement. Section four reviews the export incentives currently implemented and identify its weaknesses. Based on the discussions in sections three and four, section five suggests options for Syria to strengthen its export incentive policies. The final section presents the main conclusions and proposes steps for moving forward.