In August 2010, the Syrian Investment Authority (SIA) reduced the minimum investment requirements for foreign firms entering the country to attract investments into regions other than Damascus and Aleppo. ¨To attract foreign investors, the Syrian Investment Authority (SIA) in August 2010 divided the country into four main development zones and established different minimum investment capital requirements for each region. The minimum investment capital for projects established in greater Damascus and Aleppo remained at the previous level of USD 1,000,000. However, the minimum investment capital for projects established in Homs, Hama, Tartous and Latakia was reduced from USD 1,000,000 to USD 600,000, the minimum investment capital for projects established in Dar'a, Sweida, Quneitra, and Idleb was reduced from USD 600,000 to USD 400,000, and the minimum capital requirement for projects established in the eastern region, namely Dayr az-Zawr, al-Hasakeh and al-Raqqa, was reduced from USD 600,000 to USD 200,000.