Syria has established 20 joint business councils with Arab and international partners and plans to expand the network to at least 62, according to the Ministry of Economy and Industry. The initiative is intended to increase trade, attract investment and help Syrian companies reach new markets.
The councils currently connect Syrian businesses with counterparts in countries including Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, China, Canada, Britain, Germany, France, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. Seven additional councils are listed as being under establishment, covering Malaysia, Belgium, Indonesia, Sweden, Iraq, Sudan and Libya.
Authorities are seeking to move the councils beyond meetings and forums by using them to generate commercial deals, investment projects, technology transfers and long-term partnerships. Recent activity has included business forums with Turkish and US companies, discussions with German firms and a memorandum between the Syrian-Chinese Business Council and partners focused on smart industrial cities and industrial knowledge transfer.
The ministry established a coordinating body in January 2026 and later introduced a charter and working guide for the councils. Their stated goals include increasing exports, attracting investment, creating opportunities for Syrian companies and improving private-sector competitiveness.
The councils’ official platform reports more than 20 economic events annually and participation from over 1,000 companies. Experts told SANA that performance should be judged by measurable results, including trade deals, investment, market access and job creation, rather than the number of meetings or memoranda signed.
Source: SANA
