Damascus hosted the first Syrian-American Business Forum on Monday, bringing together Syrian officials, US-linked business figures and investors at the Dama Rose Hotel.
The event was designed to rebuild economic ties, spur private-sector partnerships and draw foreign capital as Washington’s removal of Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list eases a major barrier to investment.
Issam Ghreiwati, chairman of the Syrian-American Business Council, called the forum a milestone and said Trump’s move could open a broader phase of economic engagement and cooperation.
Syria is pitching a turnaround after its economy shrank by about two-thirds from $67.5 billion in 2011 and more than 90% of the population fell into poverty during the war.
The forum underscores interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s push since toppling Bashar Assad in December 2024 to win relief from US and EU restrictions and reconnect Syria to global markets.