The Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum 2025 kicked off yesterday, with Damascus, receiving a Saudi delegation of more than 130 Saudi investors and representatives from both public and private sectors, led by Investment Minister Khalid Al Falih. The forum will see the signing of 44 agreements valued at some USD 6 bn today, Reuters cited Syrian Information Minister Hamza Al Moustafa as saying in a press conference.

On the agenda: Bilateral meetings and extensive workshops are ongoing to explore joint investment opportunities, with the agreements set to focus on sectors such as industry, agriculture, real estate, and infrastructure, our Investment Ministry said yesterday.

Agreements are already starting to trickle: Northern Region Cement inaugurated Syria’s first white cement factory in Adra Industrial City near Damascus with investments of USD 20 mn, CEO Obaid Al Sobiei told Al Arabiya. The plant has a production capacity of 150k tons of white cement a year.

Cement is much needed for rebuilding the war-torn country. Syria removed taxes on locally made cement to boost production and meet future demand, estimated at 8 to 9 mn tons annually, Asharq Business reported.

More to come? The company is mulling much bigger projects in Syria, with investments potentially reaching USD 250 mn, Al Sobiei added.

AND- The Investment Minister broke ground on Burj Al Jawhara, a SAR 375 mn integrated retail project by Ethraa Holding. The project will combine business, hospitality, and retail spaces, spanning a total construction area of 25.2k sqm.

The details: The development will feature 4.2k sqm of car parking extending over four basement floors, 1.3k sqm of retail spaces, 15 floors of administrative offices totaling 6.5k sqm, and another 15 floors of hotel units also covering 6.5k sqm.

Much has changed since last year: The dramatic fall of the Assad regime has opened the door for revitalizing relations with Riyadh. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman led a successful international push to lift US and EU sanctions on Syria, while Saudi and Qatari payments helped clear the country’s USD 15.5 mn debt to the International Development Association.

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