Damascus wants to privatize to attract investors … once sanctions are lifted

"The vision [of Bashar al-Assad] was that of a security state. Ours is that of economic development," Asaad al-Shaibani, the foreign minister of Syria's transitional government, said of Damascus's ambition in an interview with the Financial Times during his visit on Wednesday to Davos, where the World Economic Forum is being held."We must ... pave the way for foreign investors and encourage Syrian investors to return to Syria," he added, stressing that only restored economic confidence with the international community can mark the beginning of prosperous times for the country, currently lacking basic public services and a true legitimate economic fabric.The challenge of foreign investmentsWith a study committee set up to clarify the country's financial state and subsequently draft an action plan, Damascus...