Syria marked a significant milestone in its technology sector by hosting its first-ever Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), bringing together entrepreneurs, experts, and officials to champion innovation and digital transformation. The nationwide event, organized in collaboration between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Startup Syria, created a vital platform for discussions on digital infrastructure, startup funding, and market expansion.
The week’s activities underscored a clear national intent to align the local entrepreneurial ecosystem with the rapidly evolving global digital economy.
A Strategic Push for Digital Transformation
In his closing remarks, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdul Salam Haikal, emphasized that the event was a “real opportunity for the world to return to Syria” and to support local entrepreneurs. He declared that digital transformation is no longer an option but a “strategic necessity” for the country’s future.
Haikal highlighted the ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance technological infrastructure, facilitate funding through investment funds, support university incubators, and develop partnerships with civil society to create an integrated entrepreneurial environment.
Nationwide Engagement Fosters Innovation
The event featured an extensive program of over 75 activities, including workshops, lectures, and panel discussions, held across 25 cities and towns. The sessions covered critical topics such as innovation, project financing, investment, women’s entrepreneurship, business scaling, and social impact.
Dr. Sinan Hatahet, Director of the Syrian Scientific Society for Informatics, noted that the events successfully “brought together Syrians from home and abroad to exchange ideas, expand projects to foreign markets, and reintegrate companies that were active outside the country into the local market.”
Celebrating Ecosystem Champions at StartUp Syria Awards 2025
The week culminated with the StartUp Syria Awards 2025, celebrating the achievements of key players in the local ecosystem. The awards were distributed across four main categories:
- Organization of the Year: Sand Youth Organization, for reaching over 30,000 beneficiaries and creating job opportunities for youth.
- Female Entrepreneur of the Year: Bahla Hijazi, founder of STAKERO, for her role in developing an open digital economic environment.
- Entrepreneur of the Year 2025: Amer Baroudi, Co-founder and CEO of NASAVE, recognized for his perseverance and ability to overcome challenges.
- Startup of the Year: YallaGo, a ride-hailing application, for providing innovative tech solutions to the local market.
Building a Foundation for Future Growth
Experts at the event stressed the foundational role of entrepreneurship in driving digital transformation. Dr. Basel Al-Khashi, head of the administrative committee in Damascus for the Syrian Scientific Society, pointed out that most global tech giants began as small startups supported by a conducive legislative climate.
Al-Khashi called for an integrated infrastructure in Syria, including incentive-based tax laws, co-working spaces, and investment in the ICT sector. He also highlighted the need to reform educational curricula to include entrepreneurship from an early age, fostering a culture of innovation and leadership for future generations.
About Global Entrepreneurship Week Syria
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) Syria is the country’s inaugural participation in a global initiative celebrated annually in nearly 200 countries. The event aims to promote a culture of innovation, highlight the role of entrepreneurship in economic and social recovery, and showcase impactful local startups. Its successful execution signals Syria’s re-emergence on the global entrepreneurship map and its commitment to fostering a new generation of local innovators.
Source: aitnews
