Syria’s communications minister has discussed restoring advertising tools and other commercial services on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp with Meta’s regional leadership, as Damascus seeks to support online businesses and expand digital connectivity.
Communications and Information Technology Minister Abdulsalam Haykal met Fares Akkad, Meta’s managing director for the Middle East and Africa, at the ministry’s headquarters in Damascus on October 11. The ministry said the two sides also discussed broader cooperation and steps to address obstacles to restoring the services.
Haykal outlined plans to develop Syria’s digital infrastructure, expand fiber-optic networks and improve internet services for e-commerce and entrepreneurship. He said the government aims to provide digital tools that can help Syrians build their businesses.
The meeting also covered Meta’s Silk Link project, which the ministry said could diversify data connectivity routes through Syria, improve reliability and reduce latency for users across the region.
According to the ministry, Akkad discussed how Meta’s platforms could help small and medium-sized businesses reach local and international markets, including Syrians living abroad, while creating opportunities for growth and employment.
The discussions come as Syria seeks to overcome what the ministry described as 15 years of digital isolation.
Source: SANA
