US business delegation for trade, economic relations with Syria
Syria-USA, Economics, 11/2/2002

In a meeting held with the press at the American cultural center in Damascus on October 30; the chief executive officer of the Lebanese Trade and Information Office ( LTIO), Michael Farah, stressed that the talks the delegation made with the Syrian chamber of commerce and industry were positive and successful.

The delegation included Michael Farah, (Chief Executive Officer, LTIO); Investment Executive, Senior Vice President, Wedbush Morgan Securities; Michael Asaly, (Vice President LTIO); President, Southern California X-Ray Medical Equipment and Analysis, Laguana Beach, California; John L. Saad, (Chief Financial Officer, LTIO); Certified Public Accountant, Head Investment Group, Glendale California; Marie Shaheen Michael, (Secretary of the Board, LTIO); Shaheen Travel specializing in; Middle East Tours, Louisiana Ed Michael, Professor, Louisiana State University; William Farah, President, American, builder of cyber centers and corporate board; rooms, Southern California; Stephen Farha, (Advisory Board Member, LTIO); Owner, Farha Wine and Spirits, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Richard Karam, (Advisory Board Member, LTIO); Attorney, San Antonio, Texas.

Introducing the team visiting Syria, Michael Farah Chief Executive Officer of the Lebanese Trade and Information Office said: We are a group of Syrian-Lebanese people, Americans, who are second or third generations in the United States. We are all business people, and we've come here to Syria to explore the possibilities of strengthening our ties between Syrian people and the American people.

We feel that there is always an opportunity between two countries to strengthen their ties by using trade, cultural exchange and tourism exchange. Our group started approximately one year ago, and has been very successful operating the Lebanon Trade and Information Office of North America. And we have signed several contracts doing business between American businesses and Lebanese businesses so far.

After one very successful week in Lebanon, we're invited to come north to Syria, and to open discussions with to see if the Syrian businessmen who would like us to initiate an office in North America for Syria.

We have approximately 75 businesspeople come to our trip to Lebanon and we have brought here to Syria. Replying a question about the outcome of their meetings with the Chamber of Commerce in Damascus, Michael Farah said: " I think we have the same aims. They outlined to us their background and their wishes which we found to be parallel with ours. Some of them went to the United States a year or two ago and found a very warm welcoming, and an openness to do business with each other, and we feel the same way as they do."

On the idea of setting up an American-Syrian Information or Business group in Syria and when concrete steps will be taken on the ground to activate that idea.

Michael Farah said that it's up to the Syrian government to accept the proposal and it's up to the encouragement of the American Ambassador, and then we would re-contact the Federation Chamber (in the U.S.) and we would be prepared to start within about 30 days.

He explained that the procedure will be (once) both governments have agreed, then we would go back to the United States, we would petition, which we've already talked to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce about, we would assume a role as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to Syria, and we would do the legal paperwork, as we have in the past for Lebanon, to be a non-profit organization. It takes about 30 days to file those papers, and for the U.S. Chamber and for the corporate papers to be filed. And upon that time it would be an active organization.

On the composition of the delegation, Michael Farah outlined: " We are from all over the United States. Our 75-member delegation which came to Beirut represented about 18 different states throughout the United States, and Paris, France. Our headquarters are in southern California. " Citing the EU experience in Syria, one question indicated that based on the experience with European delegations, usually when they come what happens is that after that there are Syrian-European contact days when businessmen from the two communities would meet and have discussions, and whether this visiting American delegation will envision such contact days taking place between the Syrian and the American business communities, and when would that will take place. Farah said "If we are successful in having both organizations and governments agree, we would envision probably a trip in this time next year to Syria."

On her impression about Syria and the development of the Syrian economy, Mrs. Marie Shaheen Michael said "There's been so much done since I've been here in 1999. Damascus has become a very beautiful city. The feelings that we have for the 'motherlands,' -- the 'sha'our,' it's the same as we feel that you have towards us in receiving us today. I think this will open many doors and many pathways. We'd like to also see trade between the two countries, contracts between the two countries, and also try to market the tourism for Syria. And we do have many Lebanese and Syrians who are American-born, first, second, and third generation. So, we can pull from those within the United States because they do have 'halfs' and they have meetings two or three times a year. So, I think that we could draw from that market in America and also really give Syria a little business to help the economy as far as tourism is concerned. But, we've all been very, very impressed."

On the role expected from the delegation to help in boosting tourism sector as very important for the Syrian economy, Michael Farah said that it takes great cooperation by the Syrian travel industry and the tourism offices to encourage people like Marie and others in the United States. He added that she has to be given an open door of communication, both with visas, to expedite those types of things, and also information and tours on what packages are available, what are the better hotels, and things that Americans will look for. He added that "Part of our job, we feel, is that the success of the second and third generation Americans of Syrian heritage, who have a desire to help their -- what we call, I don't want to use the word 'mother country;' America is our mother country -- but our grandparent's are form here. And we're willing to come, we're willing to foster good ties, we feel tourism is probably the most important first step. But we really need the Tourism Ministry and the tourism industry here to help people like Marie and tell the story about Syria. Most Americans don't know the great antiquity that lies within the walls of this country. And its hard for us to tell the story unless you help us."

Michael Farah cited an example on the importance of facilitating measures between the two sides. He said that the visa section of the American Embassy in Beirut closed about 14 years ago. And through the intersection of a number of Syrian-Lebanese Americans who campaigned for a number of Congressmen to start coming to Lebanon two or three years ago, that travel ban to Lebanon was lifted. This summer was the largest tourist season in 25 years of Americans coming to Beirut. This April, the entire visa section of the Embassy will be re-opened by the United States Government in Beirut. "Let's hope that we can create this here In Damascus," he commented.

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