Damascus-SANA
The activities of the Syrian-Iraqi Business Forum and the First Export Fair, which were organized over three days by the International Group of Businessmen and Women in cooperation with the Federations of Chambers of Industry, Chambers of Commerce and Contractors in Syria and Iraq, and with the participation of the food, textile, chemical, engineering, medical, electrical, financial and shipping sectors, concluded this evening at Ebla Hotel and Conference Palace in Damascus.
The efforts made by both sides resulted in the signing of memoranda of understanding between the two countries in preparation for concluding joint cooperation agreements between the International Group of Businessmen and Women and the Iraqi Industrial Cities Authority to launch the joint Syrian-Iraqi Industrial Cities Directory, as well as with the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry to set up a mobile Syrian export exhibition in the cities of Erbil. The Iraqi Businessmen Union to establish a joint Iraqi-Syrian insurance company, as well as with the Union of Agricultural Societies in Iraq to establish a Syrian-Iraqi company for agricultural and food investment and marketing between the two countries.
It was also agreed to activate the Syrian-Iraqi Business Council, in addition to signing a memorandum of understanding in preparation for the signing of a joint cooperation agreement between the international group of businessmen and women in Syria with the Russian Friendship University and the supervision of joint cooperation agreements between the university and the industrialists and merchants participating in the forum.
In their final statement, the participants recommended the necessity of exchanging experiences and skills between the two countries in the field of training and professional and scientific development, working to reduce production costs and finding a mechanism to facilitate the entry of Syrians into Iraq, especially experts and people with practical and scientific qualifications to support professional organizations and work to find ways to reduce land and sea transport costs in proportion to With the purchasing power of citizens in both countries to promote joint economic integration.
The participants also stressed the need to find a legal formula to reduce the value of taxes and fees imposed on goods between the two countries or to exempt them in whole or in part, and the need to discuss with parties of common interest in Iraq to establish a factory for natural juices and agricultural and food industries to benefit from the abundant production of citrus and other agricultural seasons in Syria.
The participants pointed out the importance of working to make these forums periodic, multiple and joint with those interested from other Arab countries, and the need to work on making the official participations between the two countries wider and more pluralistic for the participants from the two countries, and communicating with the Chambers of Industry and Commerce and the Federation of Businessmen in both countries to find a database with names Companies and owners of commercial and industrial events and distributed to the participants in order to create links and job opportunities and exchange effective experiences.
It was also agreed to form a working group and follow-up to implement the outputs of the forum and submit periodic reports on what has been implemented and the difficulties that prevent the implementation of the rest of the outputs.
In his speech, Ragheb Blebel, head of the Iraqi Businessmen Union, considered the forum an encouraging start for upcoming joint works between the two countries, including all economic sectors, which would have a positive and positive impact on the two brotherly peoples.
In turn, Dr. Majid Al-Rakbi, Secretary-General of the International Group of Businessmen and Women, pointed out that the recommendations and proposals of the forum will be submitted to the concerned authorities, especially the ministries of industry in Syria and Iraq, for follow-up and action, expressing his hope that during the coming period a business forum will be held at the level of Arab countries in Damascus.
Omar Khader, advisor and director of relations at the Erbil Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Amer Haddad, President of the Najaf Chamber of Industry, and Khalil Hajj Hayas, representative of the Halabja Chamber of Commerce, noted the quality of Syrian products and their competition with the products and industries of neighboring countries, pointing out the importance of supporting the private sector and its role in supporting the economy and solving the problem of unemployment among young people through Providing more job opportunities.
Mada Alloush and Helen Al-Hindi