Yagci, Fahrettin2013-02-272013-02-272010-06https://hdl.handle.net/10986/12570This paper aims to review the export incentives currently implemented in Syria including the free zone system, identify the main weaknesses, and suggest measures to strengthen them. In particular, drawing on the best practices around the world, it explores ways to introduce a duty and tax relief scheme, manufacturing under bond arrangements, and an export processing zone system in Syria's trade regime, and to re-orient the free zones to maximize their contribution to the Syrian economy. The rest of the paper is organized as follows: section two makes a case for development of an effective export incentive system to eliminate the anti-export bias in Syria's trade regime and foster its international competitiveness. Section three provides a summary of the main instruments of export incentives that are widely used worldwide and will be appropriate for Syria to implement. Section four reviews the export incentives currently implemented and identify its weaknesses. Based on the discussions in sections three and four, section five suggests options for Syria to strengthen its export incentive policies. The final section presents the main conclusions and proposes steps for moving forward.en-USCC BY 3.0 IGOADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURESADVERSE IMPACTAIRPORTAUDITSBENEFICIARYBONDBONDED WAREHOUSESCARSCOMPETITIVENESS INDEXCREDIBILITYCUSTOMSCUSTOMS ADMINISTRATIONCUSTOMS AUTHORITIESCUSTOMS DUTIESCUSTOMS PROCEDURESCUSTOMS TERRITORYDEVELOPING COUNTRIESDEVELOPMENT PROJECTSDOMESTIC MARKETDRINKING WATERENVIRONMENTALEXCISE TAXESEXPORT COMPETITIVENESSEXPORT DIVERSIFICATIONEXPORT GROWTHEXPORT INCENTIVEEXPORT INCENTIVESEXPORT MARKETEXPORT PROCEDURESEXPORT PROCESSINGEXPORT PROCESSING ZONEEXPORT PROCESSING ZONESEXPORT PROMOTIONEXPORT SALESEXPORT SECTOREXPORTERSEXPORTSFINANCIAL INCENTIVESFINANCIAL MARKETFISCAL BURDENFOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTFOREIGN EXCHANGEFOREIGN MARKETSFRAUDFRAUDULENT TRANSACTIONSFREE IMPORTATIONFREE IMPORTSFREE PORTSFREE TRADEFREE TRADE ZONESFREE ZONEFREE ZONESGLOBAL ECONOMYGLOBAL TRADEHOST COUNTRIESHOST COUNTRYIMPORT COMPETITIONIMPORT DUTIESIMPORT DUTYIMPORT REGIMEIMPORTSINCOME TAXINDUSTRIALIZATIONINSTRUMENTINTERMEDIATE INPUTSINTERNATIONAL AIRPORTINTERNATIONAL MARKETSINVESTMENT CLIMATEISSUANCELABOR FORCELABOR MARKETLABOR STANDARDSLACK OF TRANSPARENCYLEVIESLIABILITYLOCAL ECONOMYLOCAL MARKETMARKET EFFICIENCYMARKET SIZEMOST FAVORED NATIONNATIONAL ECONOMYNON-TARIFF BARRIERSOILOIL SECTORPHYSICAL SECURITYPOLICY ENVIRONMENTPOST OFFICESPREFERENTIAL TREATMENTQUALITY OF TRANSPORTQUALITY OF TRANSPORT SERVICESRAILROADSREGULATORY FRAMEWORKSRISK MANAGEMENTROADROADSSTREETSTAXTAX EXEMPTIONTAX EXEMPTIONSTAX POLICIESTECHNICAL ASSISTANCETRADE FACILITATIONTRADE LOGISTICSTRADE POLICYTRADE POLICY REFORMTRADE REFORMSTRADE REGIMETRADE ROUTESTRANSACTIONTRANSACTION COSTSTRANSITTRANSIT TRADETRANSITION COUNTRIESTRANSPARENCYTRANSPORTATIONTRANSPORTATION NETWORKSTRIPSVALUE ADDEDWAREHOUSEWORLD TRADEWTOWorld Bankhttps://doi.org/10.1596/12570