"Free, Not a Loan".. Minister of Finance Clarifies Details of World Bank Grant to Syria

The Syrian Minister of Finance, Mohammed Yasser Bernia, confirmed that the World Bank's board of directors has approved a $146 million grant to Syria for repairing electricity transmission lines, marking the bank's first project in Syria in about four decades.
Minister Bernia explained in a post on his LinkedIn page that this grant is free, not a loan, emphasizing the ministry's commitment to fulfilling its responsibilities to qualify for more support.
The Minister of Finance expressed hope that the grant will open up broader prospects for cooperation between Syria and the World Bank, as well as other international financial institutions.
Bernia thanked the bank team for their cooperation, as well as officials in the ministries of foreign affairs, expatriates, energy, and finance who worked on completing the arrangements for this grant.