Syria’s President Ahmad al‑Sharaa has issued Decree No. 189 of 2026, naming Basel Abdulaziz Abdul Hannan as Minister of Industry, Domestic Trade and Consumer Protection. The move effectively unwinds part of the sweeping administrative restructuring introduced in March 2025, when several economic portfolios were consolidated under a single ministry.
The appointment restores a separate ministry for industrial affairs and domestic trade, detaching them from the Ministry of Economy and Industry, which had combined the former ministries of industry, domestic trade and consumer protection, and economy and foreign trade. The decree offers no details on how responsibilities will now be divided or how the two ministries will coordinate policies governing production, investment, imports and the domestic market.
The decision comes at a moment when Syria is struggling to revive its industrial base, attract capital and restore economic activity after years of conflict, sanctions and widespread destruction.
A World Bank assessment released in July 2025 estimated that Syria’s GDP contracted by 1.5 per cent in 2024, with modest growth of around 1 per cent projected for 2025. The report also noted that the country’s economy has shrunk by more than half since 2010.
Economic specialists say the separation could, in theory, sharpen administrative focus by giving each ministry a clearer mandate. Yet they warn that without well‑defined coordination mechanisms, the restructuring risks creating new layers of bureaucracy and slowing decision‑making.
Economist Yassin al‑Ali, quoted by the Syrian daily Al‑Watan, argued that the change could be constructive if accompanied by a precise division of authority and unified policy channels. He suggested that the Ministry of Economy should retain responsibility for investment policy, foreign trade and efforts to expand markets for Syrian exports, while the new ministry should concentrate on industrial development, productivity, product standards, market regulation and consumer protection.
Al‑Ali added that combining industry and domestic trade under one institution could help align production with market needs. He cautioned, however, that protective measures for local manufacturers must not evolve into monopolistic practices or force consumers to absorb the costs of inefficient production.
Several policy areas — including customs tariffs, import rules, investment incentives and access to energy and raw materials — will continue to require close coordination between the two ministries.
Political and economic researcher Basel Koueifi warned that the separation could simply shift administrative complications from within a single ministry to the relationship between two independent bodies. He noted that a decline in exports, for example, may stem from difficulties accessing foreign markets, high production costs or inadequate product quality — each falling under a different administrative jurisdiction.
Koueifi recommended clearer coordination procedures, expanded digitalisation of government services, greater delegation of authority and published timelines for processing applications. He also proposed automatic approval for certain low‑risk procedures to reduce delays without weakening financial or legal oversight.
Experts emphasise that the restructuring carries financial and administrative costs, including the redistribution of employees, budgets, offices and information systems. Duplicating departments or adding new approval requirements could increase expenditure and slow investment processes.
They suggest that the government evaluate the reform after its first year by measuring decision‑making speed, administrative costs and continuity of public services. Over a three‑year period, its economic impact could be assessed through industrial productivity, the number of investment projects entering actual operation, export diversification, job creation and the number of factories returning to sustainable production.
Who Is the New Minister?
Basel Abdulaziz Abdul Hannan, born in Aleppo in 1985, graduated from the University of Aleppo in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in energy engineering, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). He later completed advanced training in economic feasibility studies, strategic planning and human resources management, and lectured at the university’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
He worked in engineering industries in Aleppo’s Sheikh Najjar industrial zone before holding administrative positions in industrial facilities located in opposition‑controlled areas. From 2020 until the fall of the Assad government in December 2024, he served as Minister of Economy and Resources in the Syrian Salvation Government. He subsequently oversaw the industry and economy and foreign trade portfolios in Syria’s caretaker government.
His appointment is part of a broader reshuffle of senior economic posts announced by the presidency.
Under Decree No. 190 of 2026, Maher Khalil al‑Hassan was named chief executive of the Syrian Petroleum Company, replacing Youssef Qablawi. Hassan previously served as deputy minister of economy and industry.
A separate decree, No. 191, appointed Omar Samer al‑Halabi as an economic affairs adviser to the presidency and chairman of the Syrian Sovereign Fund’s board of directors. According to SANA, Halabi has more than two decades of experience in economic policymaking, institution‑building and sovereign investment.
The appointments signal a continued reorganisation of Syria’s economic administration as the government seeks to rebuild productive capacity and strengthen oversight of key sectors.
Whether the separation of industry and domestic trade from the economy portfolio yields tangible improvements will depend largely on the government’s ability to clarify ministerial mandates, prevent bureaucratic overlap and translate administrative changes into measurable gains for businesses and consumers.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.