The World Bank has recently allocated USD 50 million to support vital transportation projects in Syria, amid ongoing discussions between the West Asian country and the global financial organisation regarding enhanced cooperation in the fields of railway and sustainable transport. In the last week of February 2026, Syria’s Transport Minister Yarub Badr met World Bank Regional Director for the Middle East Jean-Christophe Carret at the ministry’s headquarters in Damascus to discuss ways to support and develop the country’s transport sector.
While the talks focused on improving worker skills, funding will be secured for purchasing 15 new locomotives, along with a study on maintaining existing locomotives to improve operational efficiency. Discussing the World Bank, the latter’s Syria Physical Damage and Reconstruction Assessment 2011–2024 report, released in October 2025, estimates Syria’s reconstruction costs at USD 216 billion following more than 13 years of conflict.
The civil war impacted almost one-third of the West Asian nation’s total assets, with direct damage to infrastructure, homes, and other buildings estimated at around USD 108 billion. According to the statement released by the participants after the meeting, the two sides also reviewed the phosphate transport corridor project and the importance of reassessing its economic feasibility to determine the necessary financial estimates, while clarifying the related figures to ensure its sustainability and effective development.
“Yarub Badr stressed the importance of continued cooperation with the World Bank in implementing infrastructure-related projects, noting that such cooperation contributes to accelerating Syria’s economic recovery,” the statement added, noting Carret’s affirmation about the World Bank’s willingness to back development initiatives in the war-ravaged country and stressing the importance of building a long-term, sustainable partnership.
While concluding the meeting, both parties agreed to convene a technical session in March to follow up on the key points discussed and fast-track cooperation between Syria and the World Bank in the relevant areas.
Yarub Badr also interacted with World Bank transport officials via video conference in February 2026, discussing the readiness of the railway network and the phosphate railway corridor project, including its economic and strategic significance.