Swaida - The industrial projects carried out in the southern province of Swaida according to the investment law increased from two industrial projects in 2002 with a total capital of SP136 millions and 60 workers to 14 industrial projects with a total capital of SP 1, 567 billions and 455 workers in 2010.
A report conducted by Swaida Industrial Directorate showed that the number of the projects covered by the investment law increased from 2 projects in 2001 with a total capital of SP 125 millions and 52 workers to 11 projects with a total capital of SP 2, 805 billions, 6 of which were covered by the law on the sidelines of the Investment Conference held recently in the Southern Region at a value of SP 2, 205 billions and 400 workers.
Meanwhile, the number of the established industrial facilities according to the provisions of law No. 21 for 1958 increased from 17 in 2002 to 697 in 2010 with a capital of SP 2, 559 billions and 3, 567 workers while the number of the licensed projects according to the law No. 7 for 2002 hit 25 food, engineering, chemical and textile projects with a capital of 177 SP millions and 80 workers.
The handicraft facilities established according to the law No. 47 for 1952 increased from 61 in 2002 with a capital of SP 64 millions and 120 workers to 3, 483 facilities in 2010 with a capital of SP 1, 027 billions and 5, 331 workers.
Chairman of Industry Department Salih al-Amer said that the total number of the industrial and handicraft facilities has reached 4, 194 with a capital of Sp 5, 153 billions as they have created more than 9, 353 job opportunities.
Al-Amer added that the facilities have been established in different areas were as follows: 2, 889 in Swaida, 733 in Haba and 572 facilities in Salkhad.
He indicated that the sectors of the public and the joint sectors in Swaida Province have provided more than 677 job opportunities.
Chairman of Swaida Chamber of Commerce and Industry Riad Hatoum said that the industrial sector in the Province faces several obstacles such as the high price of the final product, the weak competitiveness of the products on the local and international levels and the high freight costs.
Hatoum called for activating the role of industrialists in the administrative and economic planning and ensuring the required infrastructure to support the industrial sector and keep up with the latest developments.
He underlined the importance of establishing centers specialized in studying the economic feasibility to provide a data base on the local human and material resources for speeding up the establishment of the industrial city on Damascus-Daraa Road in addition to the industrial zones covered by the organizational charts.
He also called for reducing the bank interests and providing more tax exemptions and promotional advantages for the projects which depend on the local raw materials.
By Ruaa al-Jazaeri/al-Ibrahim/Zahra
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2010
