A high-level economic meeting in Berlin brings together the official Syrian economic delegation and leading Syrian business figures in Europe

Official briefing on economic priorities
The meeting began with an address by His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Industry, in which he provided an overview of the Ministry’s current activities and its vision for the coming period, with a focus on strengthening the relationship between the public and private sectors and reaching out to Syrian talent and capital abroad.

Direct economic dialogue with the business community
The meeting featured an open and direct dialogue between the official delegation and the business community in attendance, addressing a range of practical issues and investment challenges. Participants raised their observations and queries regarding a number of topics, most notably:

• Recognition of qualifications, and registration with chambers, professional bodies and associations;
• The multiplicity of investment stakeholders, and the importance of developing a single investment window;
• Dealing with the repercussions of economic sanctions despite their official lifting;
• Developing public-private partnerships;
• Protecting local products and enhancing their competitiveness
• Exporting phosphate to global markets
• Supporting exports and compliance with European standards, particularly in raw materials laboratories
• The role of business councils in harnessing commercial potential and transforming it into a lever for the Syrian economy
• Facilitating investment for Syrian expatriate capital

The discussion was characterised by a high degree of clarity, seriousness and constructive interaction, with direct answers and clarifications provided to the various points raised, thereby enhancing the value of the meeting as an effective platform for economic dialogue.

Professional networking and positive interaction
The meeting concluded with a networking session among the participants, which helped to foster direct communication and open up prospects for cooperation and follow-up in a number of economic areas.

The Syrian-German Business Council also played a pivotal role in organising the networking session and following up on the outcomes of the meeting.
The meeting lasted 90 minutes and took place in a positive and productive atmosphere; it was widely praised by those in attendance, who emphasised the importance of such meetings in building bridges of trust and fostering dialogue with official bodies.

Official media coverage
The meeting also received official media coverage, with interviews conducted with His Excellency the Minister and members of the delegation, as well as the heads of the participating business councils, which helped to highlight the importance of the event and its economic messages.

Strengthening the institutional role of business councils

This meeting forms part of the efforts led by the Syrian Council for the Coordination of Business Councils to strengthen the role of joint business councils as an institutional platform for linking the Syrian business community abroad with the national economy, and to channel accumulated expertise and resources into practical contributions to investment and economic development. The meeting saw active participation from the participating bilateral business councils:

• Syrian-German Business Council
• Syrian-French Business Council
• Syrian-Italian Business Council