Syrian officials outlined investment opportunities in energy, telecommunications and industry during meetings with a visiting U.S. business delegation in Damascus, highlighting plans to expand private-sector participation, upgrade digital infrastructure and accelerate investment approvals.

Representatives of the ministries of Economy and Industry, Communications and Information Technology, and Energy held three roundtables with the delegation on Monday as part of efforts to strengthen economic cooperation between Syrian and American businesses.

Economy and Industry Minister Nidal al-Shaar said Syria aims to shift from an economy centred on licensing and government approvals toward a competitive market driven by private investment, production, innovation and job creation. Under this approach, the government would concentrate increasingly on regulation, fair competition and building effective institutions.

Al-Shaar encouraged foreign companies to establish production, sourcing and distribution operations in Syria, positioning the country as a base for serving regional markets alongside meeting domestic reconstruction needs.

He said American businesses could contribute expertise as well as capital, particularly in technology, project management, financial structuring, productivity and corporate governance.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Abdul Salam Haykal said restoring existing telecommunications infrastructure alone would be insufficient to meet Syria’s future needs. The government is therefore seeking to develop digital networks capable of supporting demand over the coming decades.

Priorities include a national internet backbone to expand capacity, improve connectivity and enhance service quality, alongside new investment in fifth-generation mobile networks to support the growth of digital services.

In the energy sector, Assistant Minister for Planning and Institutional Excellence Ibrahim al-Adhan said investment and partnership approval procedures had been substantially shortened over the past year, reducing processes that previously took years to a matter of months.

He said these changes had helped facilitate international agreements, including memoranda of understanding with U.S. companies covering oil and gas investment and with Saudi companies for the rehabilitation and development of energy fields.

Al-Adhan noted that drinking water, sanitation and irrigation remain essential services supported by the government and are currently outside the investment initiative. However, authorities are examining options for future investment in the water sector.

The Finance Ministry, Central Bank of Syria and Syrian Investment Agency also held separate roundtables with the U.S. delegation on Monday.

The discussions form part of two days of ministerial meetings organised by the Foreign Ministry’s International Cooperation and American Affairs departments to explore investment opportunities and broader partnerships between businesses from both countries.

Source: SANA