Economy Minister: Steps to Establish Cooperation Center with Russia

DAMASCUS, (ST)- Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Dr. Mohamed Zafer Mahbaq,  underlined that the executive steps, for the establishment of the Joint Center for Bilateral geo-political trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation in  collaboration with the International Centre for Geo-Political Analysis and Trade Cooperation in Moscow, are going well and in accordance with serious steps.

“It was agreed with the Representative of the International Centre in Moscow – during meetings that took place in the Ministry of Economy recently – on the establishment of the center quickly and set its director and management structure to establish for a joint effective cooperation in various fields to boost particular relations in commercial trade and enhance competitive ability,” Dr. Mahbaq said in a statement.
About top priorities that will be on the agenda of the center to be discussed with the Russian side, Dr. Mahbaq said they will include the discussion of granting visas to businessmen for long periods, between one and three years, and the process of paying prices of goods and materials between the two countries should be in the Syrian pounds and the Russian ruble and not to be in dollar or the euro.
Regarding the role of the center of activating cooperation between the private sector in both countries Dr. Mahbaq said that the establishment of commercial centers to urge businessmen, investors and companies to cooperate and achieve appropriate conditions for the import and investment, especially for Russian companies wishing to establish cooperation projects in the various fields.
With regard to the decisions issued by the ministry particularly import and export, Dr. Mahbaq said that all decisions to allow or prevent the export of any item will be adopted after taking the opinions and proposals of bodies concerned and most importantly the interest of the national economy and citizens, including the export of sheep.
About the Advisory Board at the ministry, which was founded months ago and met once or twice, despite the importance of meetings with the participants in it from private sector, Dr, Mahbaq acknowledged that meetings do not include the full members of the Council, as 90% of the members of the council outside the country,

but this does not mean lack of communication with others or to the Advisory Board is suspended. We, he added,  meet constantly with the President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, President of the Federation of Chambers of Industry and a number of traders and businessmen and this achieves communication and positive results of the various topics being discussed with them

Sh. Kh.