Khusri noted that the regulator will independently determine the order and locations for the exchange. The new banknotes will be issued without an image of Assad.
The new government led by President Ahmed al-Shara has declared its intention to restore state institutions and revitalize the economy after many years of war, international sanctions, and financial isolation, which have significantly weakened the national currency.
Stabilizing the Syrian pound remains one of the authorities' main tasks. As previously reported, there are plans to remove two zeros from the denomination and print new banknotes to restore citizens' trust in the national currency. The central bank plans to issue six new denominations.
According to Khusri, "the new Syrian currency will become a symbol of our financial sovereignty after liberation and an important step towards economic stability."
At the same time, some bankers have expressed concerns that the introduction of the new currency could lead to inflation and further decrease citizens' purchasing power. Nevertheless, the head of the Central Bank assures that the exchange process will proceed in an organized manner and without unnecessary upheaval.
Bashar al-Assad left Syria in December 2024, fleeing to Russia after opposition forces captured Damascus following an eight-day offensive, ending over 60 years of his family's rule.
Since the beginning of the civil war in 2011, the exchange rate of the Syrian pound has dropped from approximately 50 to 10-11 thousand per US dollar. This forces Syrians to carry large bundles of banknotes even for purchasing everyday goods such as food.
