BAKU, Azerbaijan, September
25. The Syria-Azerbaijan Joint Business Council
has been established, Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry
Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar said at the 2nd Azerbaijan International
Investment Forum held in Baku today, Trend's correspondent reports from the
event.


He noted that Syria has taken concrete steps toward restoring
business ties with other countries.


"I visited Uzbekistan just a week ago. Together with my friend,
we initiated the creation of structures we call Joint Business
Councils. Today, together with Azerbaijani Minister of Economy
Mikayil Jabbarov, we are announcing the establishment of the
Syria-Azerbaijan Joint Business Council," the minister said.


According to the minister, shifts in global economic and
geopolitical processes in recent years have led to a restructuring
of the global economic system.


"Today, we are witnessing the restructuring of the entire global
economy. This process encompasses all areas, ranging from
production to trade routes, energy, and marketing. Globalization,
too, is evolving from the form we once knew into a model of
selective globalization," he said.


He noted that economic resilience is currently becoming a factor
as important as—and in some cases, even more important
than—efficiency. "While the primary focus used to be on low costs
and the principle of 'on-time delivery,' the question of how to
respond to unexpected situations has now come to the forefront.
Consequently, resilience has become a crucial concept," the
minister emphasized.


Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar noted that all these processes have been
further accelerated by the rapid development of artificial
intelligence.


The minister stated that one of the key tasks facing Syria is
the restoration of economic ties with the rest of the world.


"Syria, having faced severe challenges and limited financial
resources over the past 15 years, must overcome these obstacles.
First and foremost, we need to restore our global connections and
resume cooperation, while simultaneously rebuilding our country and
strengthening our presence on the international stage," he
noted.







According to him, Syria is currently building a different
economic system and creating conditions to attract foreign
investment.


"Syria is a completely different country today. We are a nation
founded on peace, friendship, and openness. We have transitioned to
a free-market economy and no longer define ourselves as a socialist
state. The entire landscape has changed," the minister stated.
Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar noted that the country's legislation is
also being adapted to attract investors.


"Our country is open, and today we are not creating any
obstacles. We are updating our legislation. This is crucial for all
investors. While our laws were previously drafted to serve
specific, narrow interests, our goal today is to open up our
economy and welcome investors," he added.


The minister also said that Syria is seeking not merely
financial resources, but partnerships based on long-term, mutual
benefit.


"We aren’t simply looking for capital; we are seeking 'smart'
and high-quality capital, as well as partnerships. We are not
asking for aid. We are looking for investors who wish to partner
with us. We also aim to restore the technology transfer that was
lost over the past 15 years," the minister emphasized.


He invited investors to come to the country and select the
sectors best suited to their interests. "We tell investors: come
and do what you do best. We will not present you with a list of our
needs; our needs are already known. You simply come, choose the
sector that suits you and where you can succeed, and become our
partner," said Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar.


According to the minister, this approach differs from the
traditional model of attracting foreign direct investment.


Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar emphasized that Syria is striving to
restore the international economic ties it lost over recent
decades, and that this process will proceed in parallel with the
country's reconstruction.