Damascus, Sept. 4 (SANA) The 63rd Damascus International Fair concluded on Friday after 10 days of trade, networking and cultural exchange, leaving its mark on visitors and participants alike as Syria’s flagship economic event continues to signal the country’s gradual recovery.
From its opening on Aug. 26, the Damascus Fairgrounds became a meeting point for companies, producers, investors and visitors, with pavilions showcasing products, services and ideas, while direct meetings opened doors for cooperation and partnerships.
An event beyond commerce
For many visitors, the fair was more than an evening outing. It offered a chance to reconnect with Syria’s pre-war traditions of public gatherings and discovery. “The image of visitors moving between pavilions is what I’ll remember most,” a visitor said. “It brought back the details Syrians were used to — family meetings, brief conversations, curiosity to discover something new.”
Other visitors said the fair allowed them to discover products and ideas they hadn’t known before, noting that the experience was not just about the items on display, but the direct conversations with their creators and the stories behind them.
For exhibitors: True value in connections
For participating companies, the fair was about more than showcasing products. “The most important thing we’ll take from this edition is the meetings,” one exhibitor said. “Direct contact with visitors gave us the chance to hear market needs and understand customer questions more closely.”
Another exhibitor described the fair days as a space for networking and experience-sharing, noting that conversations that began at a pavilion or during a short tour could later turn into cooperation or partnerships.
A platform with international reach
The 63rd edition brought together some 1,000 entities from nearly 60 countries, alongside more than 40 Syrian ministries, authorities and institutions — making it one of the region’s most significant trade events since the fall of the deposed regime.
While the event featured strong Syrian participation, the presence of companies from across the Arab world, Europe and Asia reflected growing international interest in Syria’s market and reconstruction opportunities.
The Damascus International Fair, first held in 1954, is one of the oldest trade events in the Middle East. The 63rd edition, held under the slogan “Syria Shines Again,” concluded as Syria continues its post-war recovery.
The fair also served as the launchpad for the inaugural Damascus World Economic Forum, a parallel platform for investment dialogue and partnership-building between government, the private sector and international partners.
Kh.A / H.H
