On the sidelines of the 21st edition of the Food Expo 2026 exhibition, the Damascus and Damascus Countryside Chamber of Industry held an expanded meeting for the heads of sub-committees within the food sector. The meeting was chaired by Eng. Mohammad Ayman Al-Mawlawi, Chairman of the Chamber, and Mr. Osama Al-Nann, Board Member and Head of the Food Sector, in the presence of Mr. Raif Al-Sbaie, Chamber Bureau Member, along with several heads of food committees, at the Businessmen Hall in the Fairground City in Damascus. The meeting addressed the most prominent challenges facing the food industries, foremost among which are the problems resulting from cargo transshipment operations at border crossings. Additionally, they discussed the lengthy timeframe required to conduct laboratory analyses for food items entering through Syrian ports, which currently takes about fifteen days, consequently impacting the fluidity of production and trade dynamics. Participants emphasized the importance of strengthening the principle of partnership between the public and private sectors in drafting economic and regulatory decisions related to the industrial sector before their issuance, ensuring that the needs of industrialists and market requirements are fully considered. Furthermore, a request was made to appoint a representative from the Chamber's Ice Cream Committee to the Syrian Standards and Metrology Organization to contribute to discussing technical issues and standards associated with this industrial activity. In the context of protecting national industry and enhancing its competitiveness, the heads of the food committees proposed adopting the principle of reciprocity with countries that impose high tariffs on Syrian exports entering their markets. The attendees also stressed the importance of reviewing the agenda of exhibitions and festivals organized by the Chamber inside and outside Syria before their official announcement. This approach would allow for discussing the most suitable dates for food companies to participate, thereby achieving the best desired economic and marketing outcomes from these events. For his part, Eng. Mohammad Ayman Al-Mawlawi affirmed the Chamber's keenness to follow up on various issues of concern to industrialists in coordination with the relevant authorities. He called on industrial facility owners to officially submit their observations and problems to the Chamber to ensure they are tracked and appropriate solutions are effectively developed. In turn, Mr. Osama Al-Nann highlighted the necessity of holding periodic meetings for the food sector committees, while hosting representatives from the relevant government entities. He noted that this would contribute to fostering constructive dialogue and generating practical recommendations and positive outcomes that support the development of the food sector and enhance its contribution to the economy
24/6/2026
