Syria's economic growth drops to zero

NICOSIA — Syria's economy has dropped to zero percent growth. Officials said Syria's growth dwindled from two percent in the early 1990s to zero growth in 2000.

"The economic growth rate in Syria has reached zero," Syrian Planning Minister Issam Zaim told a conference last week.

Zaim said Syria wants to bolster its economy to three percent growth. This, he said, would involve economic reform, increase in productivity and privatization of the public sector.

But the minister said the process could take at least a decade. He said the nation's private sector is also fraught with monopolies.

"A developing country cannot serve its interests by complete openness even after international agreements are implemented," he said. "Is there a market that is 100 percent open?"