Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Syria is actively seeking to deepen ties with Egypt as part of a broader effort to rebuild its war-torn economy and strengthen regional cooperation. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa emphasized that relations between Damascus and Cairo are “not a luxury, but a duty,” signaling a shift toward closer political, economic, and security coordination.
Sharaa made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation from the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce in Damascus, highlighting the historical and strategic importance of Syrian-Egyptian relations. “Throughout history, Syrian-Egyptian integration has been essential to the stability of the region, economically, strategically, and in terms of security,” he said. “Our relationship with Egypt is not a matter of choice or prestige; it is an obligation, and it must be placed on the right track.”
The call for closer cooperation comes amid Syria’s efforts to attract regional partners and foreign investment following the lifting of international sanctions and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024. Sharaa framed reconstruction as an opportunity for growth, highlighting Egypt’s expertise in infrastructure and energy as a vital resource for Syria’s rebuilding phase. “Egyptian companies are among the most entitled to contribute to reconstruction,” he said, citing opportunities in infrastructure, power generation, and energy projects.
Sharaa also outlined Syria’s new economic approach, which emphasizes security stability and private-sector-led growth. He stressed that the government is reducing direct market involvement, creating space for foreign and domestic investors while limiting competition from state institutions. Priority sectors for cooperation with Egypt include ports, Mediterranean offshore gas exploration, oil sector rehabilitation, railways, and fiber-optic networks linking Europe and China through Syrian territory. The president further advocated for a shared “food basket” with Egypt and Iraq to reduce dependence on imports from outside the region.
The president acknowledged Egypt’s role in hosting Syrian refugees during the war, noting that longstanding social and economic ties between the two countries would facilitate smoother commercial cooperation. He assured that Syrian authorities would remove obstacles facing Egyptian investors, highlighting opportunities to leverage the similarity of the two markets.
The renewed push for bilateral engagement precedes the Syrian-Egyptian Economic Forum in Damascus, organized jointly by the Syrian and Egyptian chambers of commerce. The forum, the largest such gathering since the fall of Assad, will bring together senior officials and business leaders to discuss joint investment projects. The forum follows recent agreements between the two governments on the supply of Egyptian gas and petroleum products to Syria.
According to Syrian trade data, around 30,000 Syrian investors operate in Egypt, with more than 16,300 companies and 7,000 factories and workshops, representing investments worth billions of dollars. In the first half of 2025 alone, over 1,400 new Syrian companies were registered in Egypt.
Sharaa’s outreach to Cairo is part of a broader strategy to normalize regional relations, attract international investment, and anchor political stability through economic interdependence. “When Syria and Egypt move closer, the whole Arab nation grows stronger,” he said, emphasizing that partnerships with key Arab states could accelerate reconstruction while creating a protective framework for the region amid ongoing political and security challenges.
