Expatriates Forum in Tartous underlines urgency of creating investment environment and stimulating legal and financial legislation

The Expatriates Forum was held on Saturday in Tartous Governorate based on the important developmental, economic and social role of Syrian expatriates and investors. It was organized by the Ministry of State for Southern Development Affairs in cooperation with Tartous Governorate.

The proposals of investors who participated in the forum included the necessity of creating a stimulating investment environment with legislation and legal, financial and administrative procedures, investing and supporting the human element, in addition to encouraging young people in particular and expatriates in general to return to Syria to benefit from their human and material energies and capabilities.

In a statement to reporters, Dr. Diala Barakat, Minister of State for Development of the Southern Region, stressed the importance of the forum, especially in the reconstruction phase, which requires concerted efforts to advance the country. She noted that what was presented at the forum will be followed up with the concerned authorities to overcome all difficulties in front of the expatriates and investors.

In turn, Tartous Governor Abdel Halim Khalil noted the importance of this forum for raising concerns and obstacles and exchanging visions, ideas and proposals, stressing that the governorate will spare no effort in addressing what has been proposed within the powers and capabilities at the local level or by following up with the central authorities.

Tartous Attorney General Haitham Harfouch spoke about Amnesty Law No. 7, which is considered a national reconciliation for the people of the country. Head of the Immigration and Passports Branch in the governorate, Colonel Mazen Ghandour, provided clarifications regarding the facilities provided by the Department of Immigration and Passports in all its branches in addition to facilitating the movement of entry and exit to and from Syria in border crossing points.

Director of the Central Bank of Tartous Youssef Ibrahim presented an explanation of the instructions governing remittances and economic decisions that contributed to maintaining the exchange rate, which constituted one of the most important elements of economic resilience.

Engineer Bassam Abbas, Director of Tourism in Tartous, spoke about the strength of the tourism sector and the developmental role it played, especially during the crisis period. He said: “The most important tourism projects at the governorate level were completed during the war and economic siege, including the Shaheen Tourist Complex and Gunada, and the opening of beaches for popular tourism.”

Director of the Investment Branch in Tartous, Haitham Mustafa, indicated in a statement to SANA reporter, the importance of the forum in informing investors in general and expatriates in particular about the most important advantages offered by the new investment law issued in 2021 and the facilities it provides for the projects that will be established.

A number of expatriates stressed the importance of the forum as a platform  to discuss and present visions and ideas with the stakeholders, stressing the importance of investing the human element, which is considered the basis for any investment project .

The forum was attended by the Secretary of the Ba’ath Arab Socialist Party Branch, Muhammad Hussein, the Police Commander, Brigadier General Wafiq Abu Dallah, and political and economic concerned personalities from the governorate.

Inas Abdulkareem