Industrial Cooperation with Indian Cosmos Discussed

 DAMASCUS,(ST) The Industry minister  Kamaleddin Tomah recently discussed with representatives of Indian Cosmos Company areas of mutual cooperation in the fields of industry and the participation of Indian companies in future projects of the ministry.

Mr. Tomah underlined his Ministry’s keenness on developing economic relations between the two countries and upgrade them to the level of political existing relations through the benefit of Indian companies from the investment opportunities in the industrial field, the establishment of new joint ventures and ensure the needs of existing companies or that have been damaged partially of machines and equipment and raw materials, especially cotton to return them to work and production.

He pointed to the importance of taking advantage of the evolution of the Indian expertise  in the fields of industry and technical domain for the development of Syrian industrial companies and enhance their competitiveness, especially in the areas of chemical, food industries and engineering, establishing a plant for phosphate fertilizer in the Palmyra area, establishing a Company for Pharmaceutical Industries, in addition to  trucks, tractors and food industries and the transfer of technical expertise in these areas from  India to Syria.

Mr. Tomah showed his ministry’s readiness to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Indian side including industrial projects with the partnership of India so as to enhance the ability of the competitiveness of Syrian industry.

For his part, Director of the Indian Cosmos Group, Anu Bhav Shankar, confirmed his  companies’ interest and Indian companies in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and establishing joint ventures, particularly in the field of fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, engineering and related industries reconstruction and transfer of machinery and equipment and raw materials, including Cotton needed by industrial companies in Syria.

He pointed out that these projects will face the obstacle of funding that was discussed with a number of Syrian banks, along with the group’s quest to provide an Indian line of credit to finance these projects and areas of joint cooperation and the transfer of technical know-how and expertise to Syria from India

The two sides agreed to hold a meeting later to discuss the projects and areas of cooperation that included in the Memorandum of Understanding to be signed.

The meeting was attended by Directors of the Food Industries and Engineering Industries, the Indian charge d’affaires in Damascus and a number of members of the Indian delegation.

Sharif el -Khatib