The members of the Egyptian trade delegation participating in the meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Sunday in Damascus said that the visit discussed a partnership to restart stalled factories and rehabilitate Syrian infrastructure.
Cooperation with Damascus is not viewed solely from the perspective of investment opportunities, the delegation assured, but rather as an investment in the stability of the entire region, given the similarity of challenges and overlapping interests between both countries.
The head of the General Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Ahmed al-Wakil, affirmed that Egyptian-Syrian relations represent one of the historical pillars of joint Arab action.
During the meeting, Sharaa said that Syrian-Egyptian relations constitute a strategic pillar of shared Arab security, emphasizing that this relationship is not a political luxury, but rather a historical and strategic obligation.
He called for placing it on the right track to serve the interests of both countries and the Arab nation as a whole.
“Egyptian companies are the most deserving of contributing to the reconstruction of Syria,” he added.
Clear message of partnership
The advisor to the head of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, Alaa Ezz, said that the message received by the Egyptian delegation from the Syrian leadership was clear: a complete readiness to partner and initiate genuine economic alliances to revitalize both the Syrian and Egyptian economies.
Ezz explained that the visit was the culmination of nearly six months of joint coordination between the Syrian and Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, aimed at establishing a practical framework for economic cooperation between the business communities of both countries and identifying priority sectors for the initial phase.
He pointed out that this phase will focus on some vital sectors, foremost among them the energy sector, including the production, transmission and distribution of electricity – in addition to gas and oil – as well as infrastructure such as roads and bridges, the tourism and hotel sector.
It also seeks to restart stalled factories and modernizing existing factories.
Political analyst Bassam Suleiman said that Egypt’s experience in construction and development, including the establishment of the New Administrative Capital and the development of road networks and infrastructure, represents a model that Syria can benefit from.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
