The president of Syria, Ahmed al Shara, has made a first payment with a Visa card at an establishment in Damascus, at a time when the new authorities are working to restore ties with the international financial system, after the United States removed the country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism as part of the rapprochement following the fall in December 2024 of Bashar al Assad's regime.
According to a video broadcast by the state channel Syria TV, the operation took place in a restaurant in the capital. In the images, the head of the Syrian State appears accompanied by the governor of the Central Bank, Safuat Raslan, witnessing the transaction.
For its part, Visa has stated that "it has tested its first live international transaction in Syria," something that the company has described as "an important milestone in supporting the country's financial services sector," according to a statement released by the company.
The firm has added that "in collaboration with Fransabank Lebanon as the acquiring financial entity and Paymera, this test represents a historic step towards the expansion of digital payment capabilities in the market and offers international visitors a familiar, safe, and convenient way to make payments."
In this regard, Raslan has emphasized that "the Central Bank of Syria considers the modernization of the national payment ecosystem and its greater integration with the international payment system as an important part of the broader modernization of Syria's financial infrastructure."
He has also indicated that "the test conducted paves the way for the acceptance of international cards in Syria and represents a practical milestone in expanding payment options and facilitating transactions for international visitors."
"We hope to continue expanding secure and efficient payment solutions that facilitate trade and tourism, and that enhance the payment experience in Syria," concluded the governor of the Syrian Central Bank.