Syrian regime 'permits import' of Saudi goods amid economic crisis

The Syrian regime has reportedly decided to allow the import of Saudi goods following a 10-year suspension of trade, as the war-torn country continues to suffer from a severe economic crisis caused by its decade-long war.

The regime's ministry of foreign Affairs and expatriates agreed to allow the import of materials manufactured in Saudi Arabia - primarily sugar and petrochemicals, the Arabi 21 news website reported.

A document published by official regime pages showed that the import of 10,000 tons of sugar was approved, Arabi 21 said.

The Syrian regime's decision came amid speculation that Saudi Arabia is moving to reestablish ties with Syria after a break of over 10 years. However, economic expert Iyad al-Jaafari said the decision is entirely economic in nature, in an interview with Arabi 21.

"Despite the ability of Syrian traders to find alternative sources for materials that are allowed to be imported from Saudi Arabia, the aim of the decision is to push Riyadh to reduce restrictions on trucks carrying Syrian goods, which are transported to countries in the Gulf," he told the Arabic news website.

According to al-Jaafari, the Gulf kingdom's decision to impose restrictions on the import of Syrian goods was prompted by reasons related to drug smuggling - particularly of captagon. The prohibited amphetamine-type stimulant has been smuggled from Syria to the Gulf in great quantities in recent years.

The Syrian regime is widely believed to be directly involved in the captagon trade. 

The economist said that the regime's decision to import Saudi goods "aims to soften" the Saudi position on Syrian exports.

Economic researcher Younes al-Karim, however, emphasised the political dimension of the trade between Syria and Saudi Arabia.

He told Arabi 21 that the regime could use trade with Saudi Arabia to "improve its reputation" among Arab nations, which could "pave the way the restoration of ties with Arab countries" which cut diplomatic relations with the Assad regime following its brutal suppression of pro-democracy protests and bombing of civilian areas in 2011-12.

More than 500,000 people have been killed since then - with millions more displaced - as civilians continue to suffer from the regime's tyranny and corruption, as well as dire economic conditions and a lack of basic goods.

At least 80 percent of the country's population lives in poverty.

Despite a potential restoration of trade, Saudi Arabia has so far opposed the Syrian regime’s return to the Arab League, sticking to this position at a meeting of Arab leaders in Cairo last year.