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.
Summary: | 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. |
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