Syria has seen a surge in foreign investment, with 90 international company branches and agencies registering since new procedures were introduced to simplify the process, officials said.
The General Directorate of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection attributed the increase to regulatory reforms aimed at easing the operation of foreign companies in Syria.
Mohammad Hussam al-Shalati, head of the Directorate’s Department of Foreign Companies and Agencies, told SANA that “around 50 branches of foreign companies and 40 external agencies have been registered since liberation,” calling the registrations “a positive indicator of renewed confidence in Syria’s investment climate.”
Al-Shalati said the registration process has been streamlined and is now “highly simplified and very fast,” covering representative, regional, and temporary offices. Fees for registration, certification, or amendment range from 150,000 to 200,000 Syrian pounds, which he described as “among the lowest worldwide.”
The Directorate receives “numerous daily inquiries from Arab and foreign investors,” signaling growing interest in the Syrian market and optimism about a new phase of economic growth.
Saudi investor Omar Mulla Khater, who recently opened a branch office in Damascus, said registration was “completed in less than four hours without intermediaries,” describing the process as smooth and cost-effective, which reduces barriers to investment.
These developments come as the Syrian government seeks to open the economy after years of war and international sanctions that paralyzed economic activity and caused severe financial hardship for citizens. Syria aims to attract foreign investment by simplifying regulations, engaging with the international community, and building economic partnerships to help revive its conflict-affected economy.
