Syria science and society

SYRIA

Syria Overview

History

1516-1918 Part of Ottoman Empire

1918 (after world war 1 ) French Mandate

1946 independent and parliamentary Republic

1970-2000 Hafez al-Assad was President

2000-Now Bashar al-Assad is President

Health and Education

Literacy Rate 90% Male

80% Female

Life Expectancy 74.19 years Males

77.30 years Females

The Economy

(2012)

GDP 73.67 billion dollars.

GDP growth rate 3.3 percent

Inflation rate 5 percent.

Total labor force 5.12 million workers.

Unemployment rate 30%

Poverty 30%

Economy

Lower middle income country by World Bank

Oil and Agriculture based Economy

Oil export : 40 % of export earning

Agriculture 20 % GDP

Finance Sector

Damascus Securities Exchange was opened in

March 2009. More than 15 companies were

listed by the end of 2009.

President pledged to transform the state-

dominated economy into a socialist market

economy.

Though the state-owned insurance company

continues to hold the majority share with 41% of

the market, the share has declined steadily

Import and Export Sector

In February, 2009, the Syrian government set up

a new minimum price requirements for clothing

imports, reduced fuel and electricity prices, and

raised tariffs on imported cotton.

Tariffs have been reduced several times in recent

years; the average tariff fell to 14.5%, down from

20%.

In February, 2009, the EU’s external relations

commissioner told reporters that the long-stalled

agreement with Syria stands a good chance of

being passed by the middle of this year.

Sci- Tech policies

HCRSEducational and

Research Institutes and

Centers (Public Universities 10)

Public Universities 6

Private Universities 16

Scientific and Research

Commissions and Centers 6

Educational and Research

Institutes and Centers

(Independent) 3 Intermediary Scientific

Commissions and Centers (Ministries) 8

Service Scientific

Institutes and Centers

(Ministries) 5

Scientific societies 3

Distributed research projects by

disciplines in public universities

(2009)

01020304050607080

Economic and Social Objectives of

the Research Plans

Technology transfer

20%

Meet the 10th five year plan

19%

Achieve economic

impact11%

Enhancing the

compititiveness

10%

Solve immediate problems

21%

Entrepreneurship5%

Other objective

14%

Sales

Publications

The Total Number of Scientific Publications for

Universities and Other institutes related to MoHE

( National and International ):

In 2008 : 1890 publications

In 2009 : 2916 publications

Distributed R&D Projects by Discipline

in R&D Institutions

The Total Number of R&D projects

- for 2008 was 1530, out of which 1217

projects for Agriculture

- for 2009 was 1506, out of which 1276

projects for Agriculture

The number of researchers in the country is

less than the aspirations and requirements of

development and global indicators

Registered Patents

2008 : 65

2009 : 46

Reason for the low number of registered patents

- No Innovation Policy

- No Conviction

NOSSTIA(The Network of Syrian Scientists,

Technologists and Innovations Abroad)

Vision- It aims to become the hub of a

reliable network of Syrian experts in various

scientific domains, in order to enable technical

experience transfer to Syria, and facilitate

scientific cooperation.

Mission- It will offer Syrian expatriates the

means and support to initiate and implement

cooperation initiatives and work on projects

and services that could be of great benefit to

Syria.

Strategic Goals

Modern Technical knowledge transfer

Advanced training for national Syrian scientists

and technologists.

Bypass the Syrian brain drain

Agriculture

Major crops produced are wheat, barley, lentils,

chickpeas, sugar and cotton.

Extensively dependent on rainfall.

More than 60% of fertilizers produced locally

near HOMS and balanced is met by imports.

Over the last decade, the contribution

to the national

GDP ranged between 16% and

24%

to the total labor force

about 20%,

to the total trade about

14%.

Provides raw

materials to agro-

industry business

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Agriculture 24.1 19.7 17.5 18.7 16.2 19.7

Building & Construction 4.3 4.1 3.6 3.6 3.6 4.3

Finance & Insurance 4.7 5.4 5.4 5.3 5.4 5.6

Government Services 10.6 12.9 12.5 13.2 14.0 15.0

Mining & Manufacturing 23.7 23.3 23.2 22.6 24.5 22.4

Transport & Communication 11.3 11.9 12.5 12.3 12.9 11.8

Wholesale & Retail Trade 18.3 19.5 21.6 20.8 20.1 17.3

other sectors 3.0 3.2 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.8

International Conference on Policies for Water and Food

Security in Dry Areas – 24-26 June, Cairo, Egypt

Contribution of the economic sectors of the national

economy to Gross Domestic Products at fixed prices between

2006 and 2011 (%)

24.1 16.2

Land use

33% Cultivable

Invested area 5.7 million hectares, 94% of

cultivable land, 24% irrigated, 56% rain-fed land,

20% fallow land.

20% Uncultivable

44% pastures and steppes

3% forests

The impact of Agricultural Policies was positive on the increase of wheat production, due to the development of both horizontal and vertical dimensions,

between 1990 and 2012:

The production increased by 74%.

74% due to improving in productivity

26% due to the expansion in area

Statistics shows that the average ration of cultivated area to planed area of wheat between 1996 and 2013 is 104%,

the highest was 124%, in 2001, and the lowest was 82%, in 2013.

Policy impacts analysis

The Importance of Wheat

The most important item of food basket

In 2011,

wheat made up 35% of the cropped area

28% of the crop production

20% of the value of crop production

14% of the value of agricultural production

To avoid the risk of drought, about 50% of

wheat cultivated in irrigated area.

Cotton

In 1976, Syria was tenth largest producer of

cotton and fourth largest exporter

Cotton production rose from 13000 tons in 1949

to 180,000 tons in 1965.

Area under cultivation of cotton rose substantially

in 1980s.

The impact of Agricultural Policies was positive on the increase of wheat production, due to the development of both horizontal and vertical dimensions,

between 1990 and 2012:

The production increased by 74%.

74% due to improving in productivity

26% due to the expansion in area

Statistics shows that the average ration of cultivated area to planed area of wheat between 1996 and 2013 is 104%,

the highest was 124%, in 2001, and the lowest was 82%, in 2013.

Policy impacts analysis

International Conference on Policies for Water and Food

Security in Dry Areas – 24-26 June, Cairo, Egypt

ItemSelf-sufficiency

ratioItem Self-sufficiency ratio

Wheat 98 Olive 558

Lentils 173 Almonds 101

Tomato 147 Eggs 122.7

Potato 109 red meat 109

Barley 62.5 Milk 295

Maize 11.6

Table: The average Self-Sufficiency Ratio between 2005 and 2010 (%)

Internet Censorship

Syria bans websites for political reasons and arrests people

accessing them.

Syria has been on Reporters Without Borders' Enemy of the

Internet list since 2006 when the list was established

In November 2007 the Syrian government blocked Facebook,

explaining that the website promoted attacks on authorities.

In February 2011 Syria stopped filtering YouTube, Facebook, and

Twitter.

The Syrian Electronic Army, also known as the Syrian Electronic

Soldiers, is a collection of pro-government computer hackers

aligned with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. it mainly targets

political opposition groups and western websites, including news

organizations and human rights groups.

Telecommunication

Year Internet user % of population

2000 30,000 0.2%

2002 220,000 1.2%

2005 800,000 4.2%

2009 3,565,000 16.4%

2010 3,935,000 17.5%

2011 4,469,000 19.8%

Foreign Relations

Relationship with US

Tensed bilateral relationship because

Golan heights annexation

Iraq war

Syrian civil war

Friendly Relationship

Continues to foster good relations with traditional

allies, Iran, China, Venezuela and Russia

These countries which have supported the Syrian

government in its conflict with the Syrian opposition.

From the Arab league, Syria continues to

maintain diplomatic relations with Algeria, Egypt,

Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan and Yemen.

Bitter Relationship

The primary goals of President Bashar al-

Assad's foreign policy are

Ensuring national security

Increasing influence among its Arab

neighbors

Securing the return of the Golan Heights, are

These have resulted in virulent tension with its

geographically cultural neighbors, such as

Turkey, Israel, and Lebanon.

Golan heights annexation

Strategic importance

Southern Syria and the capital

Damascus are clearly visible from

the top of the Heights

A key source of water for an arid

region.

The land is fertile, with the

volcanic soil

Recent Game- Changing

Thresholds

Ghouta Chemical Attack

On 21 August 2013 Ghouta suburbs around Damascus was

struck by rockets containing chemical agents Sarin.

Death toll range near to 1730

International reaction

US and France plan to strike targets in Syria but were

condemned by Russia, Iran and China.

Arab League supported military action against Syria in event of

UN support.

House of Commons of UK voted against military in Syria.

On Sept 14, 2013 US and Russia announced an agreement that

would lead t elimination of Syria’s chemical weapon stockpiles by

mid-2014.

Internationally, Syria is more isolated than ever

Russia (unenthusiastically followed by China) is its sole backer

The Assad regime has no more political or ideological cards to play

As it wages war against its own people, it exposes the country to

foreign influences.

Military capacity is eroding through a continuous trickle of defectors.

Economy is weak.

Most R&D and S&T activities are allocated within the public and

university sectors, with very small contribution from the private sector.

Meagre facilities inevitably lead to a decline in the level of graduates in

science and technology fields, which in turn limits the ability of

research centres and productive firms, which employ these graduates

to achieve advanced levels of scientific and technological performance

and accomplishment.

References

Wikipedia

UNESCO website

BBC website

Economist

policymic.com

Thank you !!