Damascus, SANA- Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Mohammad Samer al-Khalil called for developing trade and investment relations between Syria and Armenia and taking concrete steps to achieve this.

This came during a meeting with an Armenian economic delegation headed by Minister of Economic Development and Investments Suren Karayan on Saturday, in which the two sides discussed ways of increasing the volume of trade exchange between the two countries, establishing a committee to look into the products lists for trade exchange and the agreements between the two sides.

Al-Khalil called on Armenian companies to participate in the reconstruction stage in Syria, as the Armenian companies’ expertise in the field of metal constructions, basalt processing, and computer software would be very beneficial.

For his part, Karayan expressed his country’s readiness to participate in rebuilding Syria and providing help in the fields of electricity and infrastructure, particularly since Armenia has qualified workers, technicians, and technicians with high experience in these fields.

He suggested proposed a number of facilitations for marketing Armenian products in the Syrian market, allocating warehouses for them in Syria, and granting equivalent advantages to the Syrian products in Armenia.

In statements to journalists, al-Khalil said that the Armenian side will provide the ministry with a list of Armenian companies suggested for working in Syria, particularly the field of basalt processing due to Syria having big reserves of basalt in the southern area.

In the same context, Tourism Minister Bishr Yazigi met the Armenian delegation and discussed with its members means to develop tourist exchange between the two countries, with Yazigi stressing the need to increase cooperation in the field of tourism and benefit from Armenia’s experience in this regard.

The Minister said that Syria welcomes Armenian investors who want to establish tourist projects in Syria, affirming that all necessary facilitations will be provided for them.

In turn, Karayan affirmed Armenia’s desire to develop relaitons in the field of tourism, adding that the security and safety the delegation members witnessed in Syria will encourage Armenian ivnestors to invest in Syria in the field of tourism.

For her part, head of Armenia’s State Committee for Tourism Zarmine Zeytuntsyan voiced readiness to enhance tourist exchange between the two countries as well as the exchange of expertise and visits, in addition to developing the executive program signed by the two countries in this field.

Shaza / Hazem Sabbagh