Syria, South Africa Discuss Ways of Enhancing Cooperation

DAMASCUS, (ST) – Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Dr. Hammam Al –Jazairi, discussed with Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa in Damascus, Sean Benfeldt, opportunities and prospects of possible cooperation between the two countries with the aim of establishing a solid ground for establishing joint ventures.

The two sides agreed to set up a joint action plan between the two countries to activate an appropriate mechanism of cooperation and to revitalize the work of the Joint Commission of Trade and Economic Cooperation and coordination to hold meetings at the level of professionals from different sectors to facilitate the South African investment and increase bilateral trade.

The two sides called for more communication between the activities of the private sectors in Syria and South Africa and stimulate trade movement through creating a legal framework that allows the exchange of products and goods in accordance with the preferential advantages to the products of both countries and to benefit from the experience of South African side in the field of renewable energy, rural development and Microfinance to revitalize areas that need development, including contributing to the empowerment of the rural community and support the work of small and medium enterprises.

“The Syrian economy began to restore health during 2014 compared with 2013,” adding that the most important challenge for the current year will be in the field of energy; and in the case of securing the necessary carriers of energy  for the process of productivity  “the Syrian economy could achieve steady real growth,” the minister said.

He confirmed the importance of talks it in order to achieve the common interest of both countries and the need to explore areas of cooperation that can be developed between the two sides.

For his part, the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa pointed out that the continuation of meetings between the two sides would give further momentum and develop relations of cooperation, stressing that the current circumstances in Syria “require the exchange of visits at both public and private levels to get closely acquainted with the field work of the South African companies and the extent of their capabilities to contribute to the reconstruction process in Syria.”

Sharif al -Khatib