motor vehicle pools are under the control of the Government. The land reform has been carried out and about 5000 cooperatives have been set up In about 2m. hectares of land. Efforts are underway for Increasing the area of Irrigated lands. Dams and Irrigation projects are being executed. The construction of the Euphrates dam, built up with the assistance of the USSR, has played a big role In these efforts. The dam provides additionally 640 thousand hectares of Irrigated lands. The capacity of Its hydroelectric station Is 800 thousand kw. and the capacity of water storage Is 730 sq.km. About 20.000 km. of asphalt roads and 2000 km. of railways have been built In Syria. The marine fleet Is being expended. The number of aircraft~ In the national air company Is being Increased. A design for the electrification of more than 80S of smaf I towns and villages has been completed. A great deal of work Is being carried out ln the country regarding prospecting, extraction, transportation and processing of off and gas. The oil refinery In Homs has been considerably expanded. The new oil refineries have been set up In Banlyas and Tartus. Four big cement plants, processing plants of phosphorites, manufacturing facif ftles for electronic house­ hold appliances, refrigerators, glass. paper, sugar plants, etc. have been constructed. PLANNING The country's economy since 1971 has been developed on the basis of the long-term plan. The readjustment of such plan Is done every year. There Is a planning department at each plant or Presented by Mahmoud Warde 217 government enterprise whose function Is to ensure fulfilment of current plans as well as to outl lne an original plan for the next year or five-year period. A greater part of the budget of the Syrian Arab Republic Is 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a report on the economic development of Syria, highlighting various infrastructure projects, industrial advancements, and resource development. It mentions specific initiatives in agriculture, transportation, and energy production, as well as the expansion of industries such as cement, oil refining, and manufacturing.

**Category**
Economic development, Industry, Transport and communication