Syria continues to make progress in its efforts to reintegrate into the international community and improve its economy.
“The 63rd Damascus International Fair opened its doors to the general public on Saturday for its fourth day at the Damascus Fairgrounds, following the conclusion of three days dedicated exclusively to business and investment programs,” Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Syria’s official news agency, reported over the weekend.
More than 60 countries are attending or represented at the fair, according to Syrian sources.
“The initial three days of the 63rd Damascus International Fair, dedicated exclusively to business representatives, investors, and official delegations, concluded with the signing of multiple agreements and memoranda of understanding spanning trade, industrial, and investment sectors,” SANA reported.
The Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding with the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce to boost trade, stimulate commercial exchange, and encourage joint investments in Syrian and Iraqi business communities, the report said.
“Economic expert Muhammad Koussa noted that the agreement helps transition bilateral economic relations toward project-based partnerships and expanded market access,” it added.
Syria’s Economy and Industry Ministry signed an MoU with Saudi Arabia’s Ethraa Holding Company to rehabilitate, modernize, and operate the General Company for Iron and Steel Products in Hama, SANA reported. In addition, a deal was signed with Turkish firm iSRA to expand an industrial zone.
The fair is running under the theme “Syria Shines Again,” SANA reported, adding that it “features nearly 1,000 participating entities, representing approximately 60 countries, and will continue welcoming public visitors through September 4.”
Syria can now process credit card payments again
Meanwhile, Syria is once again able to process credit-card payments now that sanctions have ended. This symbolizes Damascus's re-entry into the international system after years of isolation.
A new Syrian government social media account, Syria Response, posted a video of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa using his credit card at a restaurant. “Will that be cash or credit, Mr. President?” an employee asks Sharaa in the video.
“President Ahmed al-Sharaa pays with a Visa card in the heart of Old Damascus, joined by Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan,” SANA reported. “For more than 15 years, this simple transaction was impossible.”