Syrian-Iranian Forum to Increase Economic, Trade Cooperation
Damascus, (ST) – Participants in the Iranian-Syrian Economic Forum held by the Iranian Embassy in Damascus Monday focused on the economic and trade fields in which cooperation between the two countries can be increased.
Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Dr. Mohamed Samer al -Khalil stressed that during the past year Syria exported Syrian products to about 80 countries in the world, pointing out that Syria maintained the presence of Syrian products in the international markets, noting that Damascus International Fair played an important role in restoring economic life and the signing of new contracts between Syria and many countries.
He expressed his hope that the Fair and the economic forum will be a means of boosting trade exchange between Syria and Iran. He called on the attendees to benefit from the free trade agreement signed between the two countries, which reduced the fees on the exchanged goods to 4 percent, stressing that the coming period will bear many positive results, which achieve mutual benefit for the two countries.
In his speech during the meeting, Advisor to the First Vice-President of Iran, Chairman of the Committee for the Development of Economic Relations between Syria and Iran, Saeed Awhadi, stressed that the heavy attendance witnessed by the Damascus International Fair is an evidence of the start of economic recovery and the return of security and stability.
He pointed out that the number of Iranian economists participating in the exhibition reflects the desire of the Syrian participation in the stage of reconstruction and economic construction in Syria, indicating that the two governments offer all the support to strengthen economic relations between the two friendly countries and development and facilitate the export of Syrian goods to Iran and overcome obstacles to businessmen.
“This year we have reserved 1000 square meters at the Damascus International Fair and the next Fairwe have the aspiration to occupy about 1,500 square meters, especially in the reconstruction exhibitions,” Awhadi said.
Iranian Ambassador to Damascus Javad Turkabadi underlined that the participation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the exhibition comes within the framework of the friendly relations and strong brotherhood between the two countries, which has been rooted over the years. The two sides worked to strengthen them for the benefit of the two peoples.
The participants in the forum were members of Syrian and Iranian chambers and federations of industry and trade. They held dialogue sessions on the sidelines of the forum on activating cooperation relations, thus contributing to increasing the volume of trade exchange.
Thirty-one Iranian holding companies are participating in the 59th session of the Damascus International Fair with a total area of 1,000 square meters. Companies range from automobiles, household appliances, food products, building materials, agricultural services, software, computer, spare parts, medical and therapeutic equipment and electricity.
Sh. Al -Khatib