Damascus 's second International economic forum
Syria, Economics, 7/28/2001

The second International economic form was held at the Damascus's al-Shaam hotel on July 28 and 29. The event, held under the patronage of the prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro, was run by the al-Mamoun International Corporation ( MIC).

Business men and economists from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates took part in the activities of the forum. In a statement to Arabic News, Vice Consul at the Embassy of the USA in Damascus Mrs. Claire Le Claire said that this meeting is a wonderful initiative and must be followed by concrete actions. She noted the need to have facilitation for the private companies in a way it will be easier for them to begin businesses, particularly for people who like to start the business but do not have the financial means to do it.

She added:" for example there is a young person with a good idea for a business. She or he will be able to present this idea to people who have the ability and power to give the financial support." Noting an experience from her country Mrs. Le Claire said:" In the USA if you can convince the bank that you have a viable project they will lend you money to run the business." She continued that President Bashar al-Assad by whom the Syrians are inspired as a new image of Syria, seems to be interested in encouraging such businesses, projects, particularly for people who are new for the field.

She said there are a lot of brilliant ideas for investment and development, but still obstacles to overcome, adding:" I have yet to see that there are practical actions being taken to overcome these obstacles."

She indicated that Syria has a great potential which is tourism, adding that any body who is running any kind of business or a company should be able to get some kind of insentive if to improve this business. She asserted that there is a great potential in Syria, especially in the tourism sector, and the export of agricultural products especially fruits.

She recommended that in addition to developing these sectors. The government has to think of other pressing problems like water conservation, pollution control and the general care for the environment. She concluded that awareness among the people about these problems should be developed and things not to be limited just the Syria's government's initiative with other governments on solving these problems. The MIC was established 30 years ago and has three independent branches in Damascus: The administrative development and promotion department; the technical training department and the technological training department.

The MIC is considered the largest private training institution in Syria. It has educational education relations with American, European and Arab counterpart institutions.

Above all the MIC aims at qualifying companies and personnel of different cultures and at different ages so as to be able to cope with international developments and dealing with challenges of contemporary economic life.

The corporation has a representation office in London which supervises the implementation of training and qualification programs. It has teachers, experts and consultants who are of highly scientific and practical training expertise.

Mamoun International Corporation enjoys special relations and contacts with several reputable International scientific institutions and universities including the London City College, UK; the American Academy for Management & Technology, the USA; The Cambridge Education Group, UK; Arab academy of financial and banking sciences, Jordan; the International Air Transport Association, IATA- Canada and FAS International consultancy and training, Ireland and many others.

Among the MIC's projects is the proposed al-Mamoun International University in the outskirts of the Damascus city. This university project aims at providing qualification in the following fields: Administration, Law, Tourism, pharmaceutical sciences, information Technology and electrical engineering.

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