The Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Otri said that Syria was suffering less than other countries from the global economic crisis.

He added that banks operating in Syria have assets of 700 billion Syrian pounds ($14 billion) and the government is looking at ways of investing the money in major development projects
He concluded, “We are going to confront the global financial crisis by doing more construction"
The premier pledged to support the public sector and deal with its problems. "No public sector worker will be dismissed," Otri said, noting: "200,000 new workers join the labour market each year" and population growth is accelerating.
Major investment projects to be launched this year include the creation of 180 hectares (400 acres) of farmland at Hassake in the northeast and a project to transfer water from the Euphrates to central Syria to enable the creation of petrochemical industries.