Sanctions on Syrian Banks Choke Recovery Hopes, Investment Chief Says

Western sanctions on Syria's banking sector are preventing critical investments in the war-ravaged economy despite huge interest from Syrian and foreign investors since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the country's investment chief said. "Sanctions have stopped everything. Right now, they are primarily on the Syrian people and are increasing their suffering," Ayman Hamawiye, the 36-year-old head of the Syrian Investment Agency, said in an interview at his office.