Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment 40%, foodstuffs/animals 15%, metal and metal products 15%, textiles 10%, chemicals 10%, consumer goods 5% (1997 est.)
Imports—partners: Ukraine 14%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%, Turkey 5%,
France 4%, South Korea 4%, Japan 4%, US 3% (1997 est.)
Debt—external: $22 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $327.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Syrian pound (LS) = 100 piastres
Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (LS) per US$1—46 (1998), 41.9
(January 1997); official fixed rate 11.225
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 541,465 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel