By Alex Warren
As most of the Middle East’s banking sectors gradually liberalize, previously difficult markets are opening up because regulators are slowly facilitating entry for newcomers.
Yet two geographically central markets with huge potential, Syria and Iraq, are still considered the domain of those willing to gamble on risky foothold strategies over the next five years. Despite political instability and sluggish economic reform, Syria is an increasingly attractive prospect. A 2003 decree allowed privately owned banks to open for business for the first time in 40...
