Syria

Capital: Damascus
Population: 19, 747, 586
Area: 185, 180 SQ KM
Currency: Syrian Pound
Currency Code: SYP
GDP Per Capita (PPP): $ 4, 500
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $87.09 Billion
GDP (Official Exchange Rate): $37.76 Billion
GDP Real Growth Rate: 3.9%
GDP Composition by Industry Sector: Agriculture: 23.6% - Industry: 27.5% - Services: 48.9%

Industry: Petroleum, Textiles, Food Processing, Beverages, Tobacco, Phosphate Rock Mining, Cement, Oil Seeds Crushing, and Car Assembly.

Economy: The Syrian economy has grown by an estimated 3.3% in real terms in 2007 led by the Petroleum and Agricultural Sectors, which combined account for 50% of GDP.  Higher crude oil prices countered declining oil production, leading to higher budgetary and export receipts.  Syria has implemented modest economic reforms over the past few years, including a cut in interest rates, the opening of private banks, and establishing the Damascus Stock Exchange – set to begin operations in 2009.