Mohammed Yusr Barniyeh

Mohammed Yisr Barnieh is a Syrian economist and policymaker serving as Minister of Finance in the Syrian transitional government since 29 March 2025. He previously held senior positions in international financial institutions and played a key role in shaping Syria's financial markets.

Education Barnieh earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Damascus University in 1990. He then pursued graduate studies in economics at the University of Kansas, the University of Washington, and Oklahoma State University between 1990 and 1994.

Career Barnieh began his professional career in 1996 as a trainee at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Later that year, he joined the Arab Monetary Fund as an economist, where he steadily rose through the ranks, eventually serving as head of financial markets.

Policy priorities Upon taking office, Barnieh outlined key priorities for financial reform, including: Digitizing government transactions to improve efficiency and transparency. Strengthening collaboration with civil society organizations. Enhancing public-private partnerships to stimulate economic growth. Reviewing and restructuring public debt strategies.

These initiatives aim to stabilize Syria’s financial system and support long-term economic development.