Damascus, April 14 (SANA) Activities of the conference launching Syria’s National Startup Agenda began on Monday under the patronage of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, with participation from government officials and stakeholders in the technology sector.
Organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the event is being held at the Reda Saeed Hall at the University of Damascus.
The agenda aims to create a qualitative shift in the technical business environment by facilitating company formation, improving access to financing and opening new markets for entrepreneurs, contributing to investment attraction and sustainable job creation.
It also redefines tech startups as high-growth, scalable companies rather than traditional small enterprises, requiring tailored regulatory frameworks and policies aligned with their nature.
Speaking at the conference, Assistant Secretary-General of the Presidency for Cabinet Affairs Ali Kaddah said sanctions imposed on the country over the past 14 years had limited access to financing tools, technology and markets, creating a gap between global digital transformation and the local environment.
Kaddah said the agenda provides a framework to regulate cooperation between the state and the private sector, aiming to enable the establishment of new companies and transform research and ideas into sustainable businesses.
He added that presidential directives support technological growth and position innovation as a key pillar of the future economy, calling for coordinated efforts that priorities national interests and youth empowerment.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdul Salam Haykal described the launch as a pivotal moment for Syrian entrepreneurship, stressing that tech startups play a central role in economic recovery, job creation and productivity growth.
Haykal said the agenda is based on a strategic vision for 2025–2030, aiming to build a cohesive startup ecosystem capable of scaling regionally and globally.
He added that the initiative marks a shift from fragmented, limited-impact efforts to a unified national framework that defines roles, coordinates stakeholders and sets a clear roadmap for developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem over the next five years.
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Marwan al-Halabi said the launch reflects a national commitment to building a knowledge- and innovation-based economy, enabling young people to transform ideas into productive enterprises.
He added that investment begins with ideas and depends on the state’s ability to create an environment that supports innovation and facilitates the transition from education to production and from research to the market.
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