DAMASCUS, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Syria's caretaker government has strategic stockpiles of essential goods sufficient for the next five to six months, according to Maher Khalil al-Hassan, the acting minister of internal trade.
Speaking to Al Arabiya on Thursday, Hassan said the authorities plan to revise regulations and reduce import taxes to revitalize the domestic market.
The minister noted that a free economy approach and lifting restrictions on certain key commodities will help lower costs.
Hassan said his administration is considering a series of reforms, including a wage increase of up to 400 percent and removing government support from some strategic goods to liberalize the economy and curb profiteering.
Hassan pointed to the need for amendments to trade laws and reduced import duties to ease inflationary pressures.
The minister expressed optimism about returning to normalcy and rebuilding state institutions to serve Syrians better.
He hoped that broader economic reforms would eventually stabilize the economy and improve living standards for all Syrians.