Chairman of Damascus Countryside Chamber of Industry Demands Comprehensive Legislative Plan to Facilitate Investment and Boost Production

During the first dialogue session on the opening day of the National Conference for the Private Sector, the Chairman of the Damascus and Countryside Chamber of Industry, Eng. Muhammad Ayman Al-Mawlawi, addressed critical challenges facing the business sector. He highlighted that the core deficiency stems from legislative complexities and prolonged procedures.

Eng. Al-Mawlawi called for a comprehensive procedural and legislative roadmap to upgrade the Syrian business environment. He affirmed the chambers' full commitment to their responsibilities, aligning with the private sector's aspirations for a more flexible and attractive investment climate.

Regarding investment, Al-Mawlawi stressed the necessity of clarifying procedural paths for foreign investors, noting that entangling investors in complex routines is unacceptable. He demanded a real, tangible activation of the "one-stop shop" concept within the investment law to serve as the sole entity responsible for resolving investor issues, ensuring it cannot be bypassed or circumvented once a project is approved.

The Chairman's demands were not limited to mega-investments. He emphasized that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) urgently need streamlined, non-complex procedures. He warned that a lack of facilitation drives these projects into the shadow economy. Conversely, supporting them encourages operation within a formal legal framework, stimulates growth, enables market supply, and ensures the fulfillment of tax and financial obligations to the state.{C}

On production, Al-Mawlawi praised the high quality of national products manufactured within formal factories, confirming they adhere to the best Syrian standard specifications. He explained that markets previously experienced an influx of uninspected foreign products that temporarily impacted the market. However, the current period marks a clear return of the Syrian consumer to local products due to confidence in controlled and continuously audited domestic industries.{C}

Al-Mawlawi also revealed the industrial sector’s aspiration to expand alternative energy usage as a sustainable solution to lower production costs. He praised government efforts that successfully eliminated up to 22% of taxes and fees on electricity bills. He noted that despite current high energy prices, they remain less costly compared to the phases preceding the electrical grid's decline. He urged the Ministry of Electricity to provide further facilitation, viewing investment in alternative energy as a long-term strategy to boost the global competitiveness of Syrian products, mirroring developed nations like Germany. He called for amending specific points in the current electricity law to keep pace with this transition.

Furthermore, Al-Mawlawi criticized the mechanism of issuing sudden decisions separate from governing laws, stressing that they ignore reality and cause major confusion for industrialists and merchants. He pointed out that mitigating the impact of erroneous decisions wastes time and effort that could otherwise be invested in constructive development.

Al-Mawlawi demanded true partnership with the government as a mandatory proactive step before issuing any regulations. This involves presenting proposed projects to industrial and commercial chambers to evaluate and correct market impacts. On the other hand, he expressed gratitude to the Ministries of Economy and Industry for involving the chambers in current committees dedicated to amending outdated laws

2/6/2026