Central Bank of Syria, DamascusA country’s competitiveness is the cornerstone of achieving sustainable development and economic prosperity. For over 37 years, the World Competitiveness Center of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has provided specialized analyses and data to help countries assess their economic and institutional performance.
According to the Global Competitiveness Report for 2011–2012—prior to the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, Syria ranked 104th out of 142 countries, reflecting structural challenges in the economy, governance, and institutions. This raises a critical question: what steps should Syrian policymakers take to improve Syria’s ranking and move closer to successful models such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Turkey?
Competitiveness cannot be reduced to traditional economic indicators such as GDP, productivity, or employment levels. Rather, it is the result of a complex interaction between economic, political, social, and cultural dimensions. It is closely linked to citizens’ quality of life, where the roles of government, the private sector, and society integrate to create an environment conducive to growth and innovation. The Global Competitiveness Index is based on four main pillars: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure. Each pillar includes sub-indicators that reflect a country’s ability to achieve sustainable development.
“Competitiveness is more than numbers, it is the synergy of institutions, society, and innovation shaping sustainable growth and a better quality of life.”
Dr. Osama Kadi
For example, Singapore ranked second globally in the IMD index, with first place in economic performance, third in government efficiency, eighth in business efficiency, and sixth in infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates ranked fifth, with second place in economic performance, fourth in government efficiency, third in business efficiency, and twenty-third in infrastructure.
Today, Syria is no longer included in the ranking. However, the government should set clear 2030 targets to improve across all four pillars to secure a strong future ranking. Initially, Syria could aim to reach Turkey’s 2025 position (66th globally), where Turkey ranks 45th in economic performance, 66th in government efficiency, 69th in business efficiency, and 55th in infrastructure. By 2035, Syria could aspire to reach a level comparable to the UAE’s 2025 standing.
The first pillar, economic performance, includes the strength of the domestic economy, international trade, foreign investment, labor markets, and price stability. To improve in this area, Syria must adopt stable economic policies that encourage domestic production, boost exports, and attract foreign direct investment. Reintegrating the Syrian economy into global value chains and signing regional and international trade agreements will accelerate recovery and diversify income sources.
“Economic recovery begins with stability, empowering domestic production, expanding trade, and reconnecting Syria to global markets.”
Dr. Osama Kadi
The second pillar, government efficiency, highlights the importance of good governance. This includes public finance management, tax policies, the legal and institutional framework, business environment, and political stability. Achieving this requires tax reform, enhanced transparency, anti-corruption measures, streamlined administrative procedures, and modernization of economic legislation in line with international standards, thereby strengthening investor confidence.
The third pillar, business efficiency, relates to companies’ ability to innovate and maintain productivity, the efficiency of the labor market, access to financing, modern management practices, and societal values that support entrepreneurship. In this context, Syria must support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promote entrepreneurship, develop the financial sector to improve access to funding, and foster a culture of innovation and digital transformation across economic sectors.
The fourth pillar, infrastructure, encompasses basic, technological, educational, healthcare, and environmental infrastructure. Given the widespread destruction Syria has suffered during the war, rebuilding this infrastructure is a top priority. Reconstruction efforts should focus on creating modern, sustainable infrastructure based on advanced technologies and renewable energy, ensuring improved quality of life and enhanced economic productivity.
Competitiveness cannot be achieved without a strong national quality infrastructure. This requires enhancing the role and performance of the Syrian Arab Organization for Standardization and Metrology, established by Legislative Decree No. 248 of 1969 under the Ministry of Economy and Industry. This institution is a cornerstone in ensuring product and service quality and building trust in local and international markets. Upgrading it to international standards is a strategic step toward integrating Syria into the global economy.
This requires aligning national standards with international benchmarks issued by organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
To achieve this, several key measures are necessary: updating the legislative and institutional framework to ensure independence and efficiency, developing national laboratories and calibration systems, facilitating the adoption of standards by producers through training and incentives, especially for SMEs, and promoting a culture of quality and innovation. Establishing a nationally recognized accreditation system is also essential to ensure the reliability of conformity certifications.
The label “Made in Syria” should be developed into a globally recognized mark of quality. This requires a strict legal framework ensuring that the label is only used for products fully compliant with national standards. Through an official certification and accreditation system, this label can evolve into a trusted symbol of excellence, rather than merely indicating country of origin. Such a transformation would significantly enhance consumer confidence in Syrian products.
For instance, children’s clothing, one of the most sensitive product categories, must comply with strict international standards to ensure safety, comfort, and environmental sustainability. Adopting these standards strengthens consumer trust and enhances competitiveness, making “Made in Syria” synonymous with quality and reliability.
This includes compliance with regulations such as the European REACH standard, which ensures garments are free from harmful substances such as lead, sodium, phthalates, and azo dyes, as well as Oeko-Tex certification, which guarantees that all product components (fabrics, threads, buttons, zippers) are free from harmful substances. Additional requirements include flammability testing, especially for children’s sleepwear, reducing choking hazards, and ensuring color fastness, tensile strength, and wash resistance.
“Quality builds trust, meeting global safety standards turns ‘Made in Syria’ into a symbol of reliability, sustainability, and competitive strength.”
Dr. Osama Kadi
Similarly, GOTS certification ensures the use of organic cotton, reducing children’s exposure to pesticides and chemicals, while breathable and moisture-absorbing fabrics help regulate body temperature. What applies to clothing can also be extended, appropriately adapted—to other industries such as footwear, batteries, and manufacturing sectors.
Human capital is also a critical component of competitiveness. Over the next decade, Syria must invest in vocational and technical training institutes aligned with international standards to enhance workforce skills.
Ultimately, improving Syria’s global competitiveness is not merely an economic objective, it is a comprehensive national project aimed at achieving prosperity, stability, and improved living standards. This requires coordinated efforts between government, the private sector, and civil society, alongside a long-term strategic vision grounded in deep institutional and economic reforms.
Developing Syria’s standards and metrology system and linking the “Made in Syria” label to strict compliance with national and international standards represents a pivotal step toward building a competitive and sustainable economy, one that restores confidence in Syrian products and reclaims Syria’s rightful place in the global economy.
