Syria and the World Bank Group have agreed to establish a multi-donor trust fund to support the country’s economic recovery and reconstruction.

Axar.az reports, citing SANA, that the Syria Recovery and Reconstruction Trust Fund (START) will provide concessional financing, investment guarantees, technical assistance and capacity-building support. It is also intended to attract private-sector investment and coordinate international assistance.

The World Bank will administer the fund in cooperation with donors, development institutions and Syrian partners, in line with priorities set by the Syrian government.

The agreement was discussed at a high-level roundtable held in Bangkok on the sidelines of the 2026 annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund. Representatives of the European Union, the United States, Arab countries and international financial institutions expressed support for the initiative and willingness to contribute.

Syrian Finance Minister Mohammad Yisr Barnieh said the agreement marked a new phase of cooperation with international partners, stressing that resources should be directed efficiently toward the country’s recovery and reconstruction priorities.

Ousmane Dione, the World Bank’s vice president for the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, described the fund as an important step toward turning international commitments to Syria into coordinated practical support.

The fund will also seek to encourage private investment, strengthen institutions, support essential services and expand economic opportunities. Its operations will follow World Bank policies and procedures, with an emphasis on transparency, accountability and measurable development outcomes.