The Middle East Institute, in partnership with the US-Syria Business Council, is delighted to invite you to an on-the-record panel featuring Syrian Finance Minister H.E. Mohammed Yisr Barnieh, Syrian Central Bank Governor H.E. Dr. Abdulkader Husrieh, and Executive Director of the US-Syria Business Council, Wa’el Alzayat, on Monday, April 13, at 11:00 AM ET. This event will take place at the Middle East Institute, feature opening remarks from MEI President Amb. Stuart E. Jones, and be moderated by MEI Senior Fellow Charles Lister.
With Syria’s transition in its second year, the country’s economy has begun to show signs of recovery and reintegration. Most sanctions have been removed, and the international community is re-engaging Damascus at high levels. Consequently, external investment interest is also building, and the work of internal economic, financial, and banking reform is well underway. Already the effect of this early progress is beginning to show: the Syrian government posted a budget surplus at the end of 2025, for the first time since 1990.
What is the status of Syria’s financial and banking reform process in 2026? What priorities have been set for the coming year? What incentives, if any, does the Syrian government plan to offer to attract foreign investors? Besides sanctions, are there other barriers or banking challenges that remain? Is the ongoing regional conflict affecting investment prospects inside Syria? Please join us for a high-profile discussion to tackle these questions and more as well as more broadly assess the health of the Syrian economy.
If you are not able to attend in person but would like to participate online, please click here. Please contact [email protected] for any other inquiries.
Panel Speakers
H.E. Mohammed Yisr Barnieh
Minister of Finance, Syrian Arab Republic
H.E. Dr. Abdulkader Husrieh
Governor, Central Bank of Syria
Wa’el Alzayat
Executive Director, US-Syria Business Council
Charles Lister (Moderator)
Senior Fellow, Middle East Institute
Extended Speaker Biographies
H.E. Mohammed Yisr Barnieh is a Syrian economist and policymaker serving as Minister of Finance in the Syrian transitional government since 29 March 2025. He previously held senior positions in international financial institutions and played a key role in shaping Syria’s financial markets. Between 2004 and 2007, Barnieh contributed to the establishment of the Syrian Commission on Financial Markets and Securities and the Damascus Securities Exchange, underpinning the development of Syria’s financial sector by strengthening its regulatory and institutional framework. From 2009 to 2024, he held various positions within the Arab Monetary Fund, culminating in his role as the director of the Economic Policy Department. In this capacity, he oversaw economic research and advised Arab governments on financial reforms.
H.E. Dr. Abdulkader Husrieh is the Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, appointed in March 2025. With a PhD in finance from Durham University, he brings decades of expertise in monetary policy and economic reform. He previously held senior roles at Ernst & Young and served as a consultant for international financial institutions. His work spans banking regulations, Islamic finance, and capital markets development. A graduate of AUB and Damascus University, Husrieh combines academic depth with real-world leadership to guide Syria’s economic recovery and financial modernization
Wa’el Alzayat is the Executive Director of the US-Syria Business Council and co-founder of Zenobia Advisory Group. He is a former diplomat with extensive private and public sector leadership experiences managing complex enterprises across the United States and the globe. He previously served as a Middle East policy expert at the US Department of State for 10 years.
Charles Lister (Moderator) is a Senior Fellow and the Director of the Syria Initiative at the Middle East Institute (MEI), where he focuses on Syria, terrorism, and insurgency across the Levant. His work also covers broader regional security dynamics and the evolution of jihadist movements, including al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS). Mr. Lister is concurrently a Senior Consultant to the Karam Shaar Advisory; the Founder of Syria Weekly; and a consultant to the United Nations’ International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) for Syria. Mr. Lister also serves as an expert witness and advisor on counterterrorism for US, European, and Australian law enforcement and judicial bodies.
