Damascus, July 22 (SANA)Damascus Chamber of Commerce President Issam al-Gharyouti met on Wednesday with a delegation from the EU mission to Syria, headed by Program Director Tuuli Räty, to discuss enhancingeconomic cooperation.

The meeting, held at the chamber’s headquarters, focused on the importance of supporting the private sector, improving the business andinvestmentenvironment in Syria, and contributing to economic recovery and revitalizing trade activity.

Private sector support, banking challenges

Al-Gharyouti said theDamascus Chamberplaces supporting the private sector, particularly small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurship, at the top of its priorities, and is working to attract Syrian, Arab and foreign investments.

He noted that the chamber works closely with government agencies to develop economic legislation and improve the investment climate.

Al-Gharyouti said one of the main challenges facing investors remains the difficulty of banking transfers, calling for accelerating the reconnection of Syria’s banking sector to the international financial system and facilitating the movement of businessmen and travel.

EU programs for SMEs, upcoming events

The EU delegation presented the bloc’s cooperation priorities for the coming period, focusing on supportingeconomic recovery, institutional capacity building and improving the business environment, as well as preparing technical assistance programs and developing economic legislation while strengthening partnership with the private sector.

The delegation said the EU is working to launch programs to support small and medium enterprises, provide financing tools and guarantees to reduce investment risks, alongside capacity-building programs, entrepreneurship support and empowering financial institutions, with a focus on productive and export sectors.

The delegation announced preparations for a series of joint workshops in September with the participation of European businessmen and financial institutions to strengthen communication between the Syrian and European private sectors, ahead of a high-level economic visit to Damascus in November to explore investment opportunities and economic cooperation.

The meeting follows the National Private Sector Dialogue Conference held in Damascus from June 1-3, which addressed strengthening public-private partnerships and improving the business environment.