High-ranking Syrian-Russian ministerial meetings held in Moscow

On the sidelines of the summit meeting between Presidents Bashar Al-Assad and Vladimir Putin in Moscow, the Syrian economic ministerial delegation held high-ranking meetings with a number of Russian officials in charge of the joint economic cooperation file.

The Syrian economic delegation was headed by Mansour Azzam, Minister of Presidential Affairs, while the Russian side was headed by Eric Vizulin, Minister of Construction, Housing and Public Utilities, Chairman of the Syrian-Russian Joint Committee. A number of managers and representatives of major Russian companies attended the meetings.

These ministerial meetings took place in the context of following up on the work of the Joint Governmental Committee that aims at enhancing bilateral efforts to counter the effects of the illegal Western economic sanctions, thereby ensuring that the economic potential of the two countries is invested in the interests of the two friendly peoples.

The meetings dealt with evaluating areas of bilateral economic cooperation in terms of the implementation of joint investment projects and the promising investment opportunities in Syria (especially after the issuance of Investment Law No. 18 of 2021). The meetings also focused on the mechanisms for promoting trade and enhancing the flow of products in the markets of the two countries, especially (wheat, oil, fodder, etc.), in the light of the extensive facilities and exemptions provided by the governments of the two countries.

In addition, ways of using the two countries’ currencies to facilitate and simplify the work of exporters and importers were also discussed.

Important investment opportunities in Syria in the energy sector, including power plants, oil and gas production stations, and the accomplishment of a number of water resources and drinking water projects were also discussed, with focus on benefiting from the expertise of the Russian companies working in this field.  The meetings also highlighted several documents and cooperation formulas to be signed soon, after being finalized by the relevant bodies and committees of the two countries.

Minister Azam thanked the Russian leadership, government and people for standing by Syria in the face of the repercusions of last February 6 earthquake, indicating that cooperation in managing the post-earthquake relief phase was discussed with the aim of overcoming the earthquake’s medium and long-term consequences.

Vizulin noted that the Syrian side is an important and credible partner of the Russian government, which pays full attention to boosting relations with Syria and building long-term alliances with it at economic, commercial, cultural, scientific and all other levels.

He stressed that the Russian government continues to provide assistance to the Syrian people to mitigate as much as possible the consequences of the earthquake.

A large number of Russian companies working in the Syrian market or those looking forword to entering this promising market participated in the meetings.

The Syrian and Russian sides agreed to review the items of the draft protocol of the joint committee’s meetings during its forthcoming 13th session in Damascus, and the developments on the Committee’s agenda, both with regard to the aftermath of the earthquake and the proposals of the companies willing to work in the markets of the two countries.

Amal Farhat