The Damascus Countryside Chamber of Commerce Holds a Joint Economic and Trade Meeting with the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to Explore Prospects for Strengthening Bilateral Economic Cooperation

As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen international economic relations, open new markets for Syrian products, and further develop communication and cooperation with Belarusian economic stakeholders, the Damascus Countryside Chamber of Commerce held a joint economic and trade meeting with a delegation from the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Chamber's headquarters. The meeting was attended in person by a delegation from the Belarusian Chamber, alongside several representatives of the Chamber's Minsk headquarters who participated via videoconference.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Abdul Rahim Ziyada, President of the Damascus Countryside Chamber of Commerce, in the presence of Dr. Saeed Al-Afar from the Russian Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, as well as members of the Executive Office and Board of Directors: Mr. Mahmoud Al-Haj Hammoud, Treasurer; Mr. Mohammad Imad Al-Mawlawi; Mr. Anwar Al-Sheikh Qudeir; and Mr. Mohammad Abd Al-Aal, in addition to Mr. Nizar Bakour, General Manager of the Chamber.

The Belarusian side was represented by Mr. Anatoly Bogoringo, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Damascus; Mr. Riyad Hamad, Adviser for Trade and Economic Affairs at the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Jihad Khader, General Representative of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Syria; and Ms. Nagham Ghanem, Foreign Relations Coordinator at the Chamber's General Representation in Syria.

Participating via videoconference were Ms. Tatiana Potapova, Deputy Director General for Foreign Economic Relations at the Minsk Branch; Mr. Yuri Gorlik, responsible for international cooperation and exhibition activities; and Mr. Konstantin Molyarchik, Adviser at the Department of International Cooperation and Exhibition Activities of the Minsk Chamber.

The meeting addressed ways to develop Syrian exports and strengthen the presence of national products in the Belarusian market. It also reviewed the needs of the Syrian market for Belarusian products, raw materials, machinery and equipment, in addition to discussing mechanisms for organizing a Syrian economic and trade delegation to Belarus in conjunction with one of the specialized international exhibitions in the capital, Minsk.

Both sides also discussed opportunities to organize joint economic and trade forums in several sectors, including pharmaceutical industries, medical supplies, food industries, agricultural products, chemical industries, agricultural production inputs, building materials, and construction and reconstruction machinery and equipment. They also explored ways to enhance reciprocal participation in exhibitions and economic events held in both countries.

The meeting emphasized the importance of developing direct communication channels between Syrian and Belarusian companies, traders and businesspeople, building on previous meetings and understandings, and establishing a joint coordination and follow-up mechanism involving the exchange of information and lists of companies and products, as well as monitoring the implementation of recommendations and following up on the opportunities discussed.

This meeting reaffirms the Damascus Countryside Chamber of Commerce's role in promoting the Syrian commercial sector's openness to international markets, expanding its network of economic relations, and working to transform cooperation opportunities into effective and sustainable trade and investment partnerships that serve the interests of economic stakeholders in both countries.