SYRIA AUTO MARKET BOOMS AFTER DUTY CUTS
July 1st, 2006
BY PAUL COCHRANE, in Damascus
FOLLOWING a sizeable reduction in import duties last year, Syria's fledgling car market has grown by up to 60% in under a year.
A mere decade ago Syria's roads were full of ageing cars, such as 1950s and 1960s Chevrolets, Dodges and Plymouths that were either lovingly maintained or had had one paint job too many.
In 1995 the government allowed imports for the first time, but customs taxes were so prohibitive that only cheap and economical South Korean and Chinese cars were affordable for even affluent Syrians. But last September the ...
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