NEWSLETTERNon Periodical Publication / July - August 2010 InternationalIInternattional Chamber of Commerce - Syria Attar: Italy could be a bridge for all of Europe to Syria Abdul Aziz- , General Director of the Syrian Investment Agency, Mohammad Saad Al-Imad, President of the Chamber of Tourism in Damascus and Mrs. Sonia Kachicho, Secretary General of the Syrian Gastronomy Association. The opening session concluded with a lecture and presentation by Luigi Genuardi, president of the Italian delegation, Board Member of Directors of Palermo Chamber of Commerce. The lecture entitled ‘Sicily and its entrepreneurial world’ - presented a brief on the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Handicrafts and Agriculture in Palermo. The International Chamber of Commerce -Syria (ICC-Syria), in cooperation with the Syrian Federation of Chambers of Commerce, held the First Conference of Commerce in June 8, 2010 at the Dedeman Hotel - Damascus at the presence of a high-level Italian commercial delegation. Dr. Abdul Rahman Attar, President ICCS, stressed that his country would move forward with a giant step in adopting Italy as a portal of Syrian exports to Europe. Attar explained that Italy could be a bridge for all of Europe to Syria and that Syria is the best suited for the Mediterranean relationship. Attar described the conference as a ‘type’ for the beginning of joint work Later on, and during four main roundtables, the between the Syrian and Italian companies, saying that participants discussed strategies of cooperation, the Italian machine is present at every factory in Syria. cultural goods, restoration’s techniques and Mohammad Ghassan Al Qallaa, President of the handicraft, agro-food sector and tourism and Syrian Federation of Chambers of Commerce pointed environment and fisheries. out that the commercial relations between Syria and The following day, the Italian delegation visited Homs Italy are firmly-established where signing of the first Chamber of Commerce. A conference was held at trade deal between the two countries was in 1950. the headquarters of the chamber. The conference In turn, Achille Amerio, the Italian Ambassador in was attended by Adel Tayara, President of Homs Syria, stressed on the depth of economic relations Chamber of Commerce, Labib al-Ekhwan, President between the two countries, adding that Syria plays an of Homs Chamber of Industry, and Mohammed important and vital role especially since it is a transit Azzam al Jondi, President of the Chamber of Tourism point for all the economic activities. (Mid Syria). The conference also was attended by a The opening session was attended by Dr. Ahmad number of Syrian interested businessmen. P.O.Box: 2908 / Tel. : + 963 - 11 - 3344391 / 2 - Fax: + 963 - 11 - 3344393 / E-mail: [email protected] / www.icc-syria.net MED Digital starts its activities in Syria, Lebanon and Morocco Carles Revilla, a Spanish web as a key and efficient mean to expert, visited Syria on May 17 promote and market the products and and 18, 2010, during which he services of SMEs in MED countries. held official meeting with Dr. Basel The EU had contracted with al-Khashi, Deputy Minister of several of bodies to implement Communication, and Dr. Rakan the project during the third call Razzouk Chairman of the Syrian of the Invest in Med project. the Computer Society- SCS. contractors include: ICC Syria, Revilla paid a number of visits to the Syrian Enterprise & Business leading Syrian companies working Centre (SEBC), The Chamber of in the field of electronic solutions Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and the web. He also met with of Beirut and Mount Lebanon representatives of the regulatory (CCIAB), Estonia Chamber of Moroccan enterprises in the period committees and agencies which Commerce and Industry, ACC1O between 30 June and July 2, 2010. organize this sector. (Barcelona), CGEM (Morocco) The meeting aimed to diagnose the The headquarters of the Revilla also held several meetings status of internet in the country. International Chamber of with representatives of the Ministry Another point worth mentioning Commerce - Syria (ICC Syria) has of Economy and Trade in Lebanon, is that Phase 2 of the project will hosted workshops Revilla held experts and officials from the be launched during the first week with representatives of SMEs. Chamber, representatives of of October in the Estonian capital Revilla ’s visit to Syria comes under companies specialized in electronic Tallinn during which large scale the Phase 1 of the MED Digital solutions via the internet and workshops will be conducted to Project, which comprises situation a number of SMEs with prior train employees of partner centres diagnosis in MED countries (Syria, experience in using web solutions to (business support centres) from Lebanon and Morocco), has been promote their products and services, Syria, Lebanon and Morocco already launched. at the chamber’s headquarter on digital marketing instruments MED Digital Project – Development between May 19 and 21, 2010. services and provide them with of a new service in digital marketing In Morocco, The last stopping information on the new services –, which the EU funds 75% of its place in this Phase, Revilla held and on the mechanism designed to budget, aims to support and boost several meetings with members support SMEs and encourage the the use of electronic solutions and the and representatives of the Union of utilization of e marketing. U.S. – Arab Chamber of Commerce: There are competent private sector leaders in Syria who have the potential to become good business partners David Hamod, President make American companies aware Board member of the NUSACC. and CEO of National U.S. - of best sectors in Syria. The meeting discussed a number Arab Chamber of Commerce Hamod said he found Syria of topics aimed at developing the (NUSACC), visited Syria between “encouraging”, describing the Syrian economic relations between the July 22 and 25, when he met with business community as “dynamic.” two countries. Syrian officials and a number of “This might come as a surprise to economic and trade leaders. most of the commercial leaders in the Hamod stressed that this is his U.S.,” he said, because “they do not first visit to Syria as President & fully understand the Syrian economy CEO of the National U.S.-Arab and the opportunities here.” Chamber of Commerce, adding During his visit, Hamod met with that the objective of his visit was Dr. Abdul Rahman Attar, President focused on identifying business of the International Chamber of opportunities in Syria in order to Commerce – Syria and Executive The First “Euro-Mediterranean Industry Forum”... 350 operations to serve the business community With the participation of 250 union and industry leaders in the European Union and South Mediterranean countries, the first Euro-Mediterranean Industry Forum was launched with ‘Coalition and Investment Programme for the Mediterranean Forum’, which was held in Cairo on April 21-22, 2010. The investment map of the Southern Mediterranean has The mentioned projects, which are more than 350, are focused on been reviewed in addition serving the Euro-Mediterranean business community where 280 to the projects which the unions and chambers from both shores of the Mediterranean are MedAlliance is implementing in implementing them with a budget amounted to 12 million euros, cooperation with the European nine of them by a grant from the European Union. Union to support trade, industry The Syrian participation was represented by the attendance of and investment in the Euro- Dr. Abdul Rahman Attar, President of the International Chamber Mediterranean region. The of Commerce - Syria (ICC-Syria), and Mirna Nayfeh, Executive Euro-Mediterranean integration manager of ICC Syria. It is worth mentioning that MedAlliance strategy was developed as well. includes EuroChambres, ASCAME, ANIMA and BUSINESSMED. General Authority for Business Med discusses 2010 agenda BusinessMed held it is General Assembly in Cairo on April 22, 2010, where the annual report for 2009 was discussed. The meeting discussed the developments of “ Invest in Med” project, and as has been the financial report for the year 2009, as ratified by the Board on the budget estimates for 2010. The meeting also listen to the notes of the assembly’s members on the report which contains the program for what remains for the professional organization created assembly’s activities and its results same year, where the participants thanks to the will, determination in all fields. emphasized the need for all and militancy of the federations’ The Syrian participation was parties to the success of these presidents of the twelve members represented by the attendance of activities. The meeting also and which aims at accelerating Dr. Abdul Rahman Attar, President discussed a number of matters the integration and the social of the International Chamber of relating to the constitution of the and economic development in Commerce - Syria (ICC-Syria). organization and membership. the region. The main objective The assembly discussed what The Union of Mediterranean of the organization is economic has been implemented of the Confederations of Enterprises integration within Europe and 2010 Plan, and reviewed the (BUSINESSMED) is a regional World economy. The second session of the “Mediterranean Dialogue” in Tunisia Under the High Patronage Dr. Abdul Rahman Attar, President of H.E. President Mr. Zine El of the International Chamber of Abidine Ben Ali, President of the Commerce -Syria (ICC-Syria), Republic of Tunisia,