Syrian-Iranian talks on enhancing and developing economic cooperation

The Syrian ambassador in Tehran Dr. Shafiq Dayyoub, the head of the federation of the Syrian Chambers of Commerce  Muhammad Abu al-Huda al-Lahham and the accompanying delegation discussed with the head of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Minerals and Agriculture, Samad Hassanzadeh, ways to enhance and develop economic relations between Syria and Iran.

Ambassador Dayoub drew attention to the political and historical relations between Syria and Iran, stressing Syria’s full readiness to provide facilities to economic investors for the purpose of investment.

Ambassador Dayoub explained that efforts are being made to solve problems related to financial transfers, cancellation of customs duties and free trade between the two countries, noting the importance of establishing a leadership role for private sector cooperation between Syria and Iran.

Regarding the unjust sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran and Syria, Dayoub said: ” To confront these sanctions and rebuild Syria, businessmen in the two countries must stand side by side, especially since the fields of joint cooperation are wide, the most important of which are in the fields of energy, oil, gas, electricity, the restoration and reconstruction of factories and infrastructure destroyed by the war, and the establishment of new factories”.

He noted the new investment law in 2021, which facilitated the investment process in Syria.

In turn, Hassanzadeh stressed the readiness of the Iranian private sector to cooperate in rebuilding the infrastructure and industrial and investment sectors in Syria that were destroyed by the war. He pointed out that developing economic cooperation requires establishing regular transport lines and banking exchanges between the two countries, and overcoming all obstacles that prevent this.

For his part, the head of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce stated that the volume of trade exchanges between the two countries is not equal the depth of the commercial and political relations between them. He expressed the readiness of the private sector in Syria to remove all obstacles to cooperation between the two countries in the financial and transportation fields.

Al-Lahham welcomed the presence of Iranian economic investors to participate in Syrian reconstruction projects, saying: “We can provide the Iran Chamber with a list of priorities for the development and reconstruction projects in Syria, and we also welcome investments and joint projects between the two countries”.

For his part, the head of the federation of the Syrian Chambers of Agriculture Muhammed Al-Kashto, confirmed that the cooperation must  include the agricultural sector between the two countries, expressing the readiness of the Syrian private sector for any cooperation with Iranian companies to ensure food For his part, the head of the Syrian-Iranian Joint Chamber, Fahd Darwish, pointed to the readiness of the Syrian side in the chamber to further activate its work and enhance trade between the two sides, and the need for the chambers of commerce in Iran and Syria to support businessmen and industrialists.

Souha Suleiman