On the visit of the Syrian economic delegation to the US
Syria-USA, Economics, 12/2/1999

A Syrian economic delegation which represents several important companies in the private sector continued its meetings with US officials and businessmen, amid atmospheres that are promising of a qualitative change in Syrian-US economic relations, relations which have been during past years, like the political relations, limited.

On Tuesday the Syrian ambassador in Washington, Walid al-Mu'allim, held a luncheon banquet at his house for members of the Syrian delegation. It was attended by several US officials at the State Department.

It was attended by US under secretaries of state Martin Indyk and Tony Fair standing and the woman responsible for organizing the visit of the Syrian delegation at the US Department of Commerce, Molly Deliamson.

The Syrian ambassador talked about the importance of building an economic bridge between Syria and the US and the role played by the private sector in the two countries in building and reactivating commercial movement through it. He asserted that stability in Syria should encourage US businessmen to concentrate on the great future possibilities of the Syrian economy.

Indyk said that it is a ripe time to develop economic relations between Syria and the US. Though he said there should not be a link to be made between the development of economic relations to attaining progress in the Middle Esat peace process, he indicated that the realization of peace would be conducive to the improvement of economic relations between Syria and the US, as well as the "benefits" of peace on the economies of all countries of the region.

For his part, the chairman of the Syrian Chamber of Commerce, Rateb al-Shallah, said that the Syrian private sector is carrying out its due role in boosting the Syrian economy. He added that the delegation is eager to strengthen economic cooperation between Syria and the US, expressing his wish that the US would not link economic cooperation to political considerations, adding that bilateral economic relations can be kept abreast despite the existence of political disputes.

However, despite the issuance of the law no. 10 of 1991 on encouraging investment and other Syrian measures taken to attract foreign investments, US investments in Syria are still small. US officials and businessmen believe that reaching a peace agreement between Syria and Israel will accelerate the normalization process and develop the economic relations between Syria and the US, especially as Syria is still under US trade and economic sanctions and restrictions as it is still in the list of the countries which are considered by the US as sponsoring terrorism.

The delegation, the first of its kind in 30 years, includes 15 members (including two parliament members), representing important sectors and companies in the Syrian economy, including agriculture, telecommunications, tourism, energy, electronics, etc.

The US Department of Commerce in collaboration with the Syrian chambers of commerce had organized the tour which started on Monday in Washington. It will cover the city of Cleveland (Ohio) and the city of Houston (Texas).

The US official at the US Department of Commerce, Tom Samz, said the program of the visit is busy in meetings with US businessmen and companies which are active in Syria. He added that the interests of the delegation are industries, agriculture, packing of foodstuffs, energy, tourism and electronics.

Members of the Syrian delegation met with representatives of the Conoco company for gas and oil, the Mobil Oil Company, telephone company Bell Atlantic, the Lucent Technology company and Marriott Hotel company.

The Syrian delegation also met with assistants to several influential representatives at the US congress. On Tuesday the Arab American Chamber of Commerce held a luncheon banquet in honor of the Syrian delegation, attended by a number of US businessmen.

Previous Stories:
  US to establish a business center in Damascus   (11/29/1999)
  Report: Syrian ambassador's term extended to resume contacts on negotiations   (11/11/1999)
  Report: President Clinton to make special initiative towards President al-Assad   (11/10/1999)

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