SEOUL, December 05 (AJP) - South Korea and Syria held their first joint business forum in Damascus on Dec. 4, marking a rare step toward expanded economic engagement as Syria seeks partners for reconstruction and modernization efforts.
The forum, hosted by the foreign ministries of both countries and organized by KOTRA and the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce, took place at the Sheraton Hotel in central Damascus. According to KOTRA, around 100 government officials, business leaders and journalists attended.
Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Mohammad Nidal Alshaar called for deeper strategic cooperation with South Korea in advanced industries, technology transfer, smart infrastructure and education. He said Syria is working toward a more export-oriented and globally integrated economy through stabilization measures and legal reforms.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdulsalam Haykal lauded South Korea’s economic rise, citing companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Telecom as models. He expressed interest in attracting a Samsung data center to Syria, highlighting the country’s potential as a logistics base with a skilled workforce.
Representing Seoul, Jung Kwang-yong, Director-General for the Middle East and Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted opportunities for cooperation in trade, energy and infrastructure.
Jeon Gyu-seok, South Korea’s ambassador to Lebanon, said the forum underscores Seoul’s commitment to supporting Syria’s stability, reconstruction and economic recovery.
* This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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