Damascus, Sept. 17 (SANA)The International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates hosted a roundtable with a World Bank technical team on Thursday to discuss the current state of Syria’s housing and mortgage finance sector and prospects for its development.

Participants discussed ways to build a sustainable and inclusive housing finance system based on market mechanisms and aligned with reconstruction priorities and the needs of returning Syrians and families with limited access to housing finance.

Discussions also covered lending conditions, housing affordability, loan guarantees, property registration and the legislative and regulatory frameworks governing the sector.

The meeting further addressed the role of public institutions and banks, ways to strengthen private-sector participation, and priorities for studies and technical assistance needed to prepare a phased programme for reforming the mortgage finance system.

The roundtable brought together representatives of the ministries of Finance, Local Administration and Environment, and Public Works and Housing, as well as the Central Bank of Syria, the Mortgage Finance Supervisory Authority, the General Housing Establishment, the Real Estate Bank and the authorities responsible for land records, surveying and property registration.