A Saudi-Syrian Accord: Anticipated Investments in Key Sectors

Recent Saudi-Syrian actions seem to go beyond cooperation accords at a time when nations are vying for dominance in the digital economy. With a strategic push from Saudi Arabia that goes beyond the bilateral realm to a wider regional horizon, they constitute a sincere attempt to change Syria’s technological and economic environment. The specifics are as follows!

A Saudi-Syrian Accord to Enhance Syria’s Digital Infrastructure

The GO Telecom Group and the Syrian Ministry of Communications and Technology inked a memorandum of understanding to advance the nation’s digital transformation at a time of numerous ramifications.

The group’s CEO, Yahya bin Saleh Al Mansour, and Syrian Communications Minister Abdul Salam Haykal attended the signing ceremony. The Syrian Minister of Communications’ advisor, Alaa Hamzawi, and Mohammed bin Mansour Karhan, CEO of GO’s business sector, represented both parties.

It was more than just a standard protocol for cooperation. Instead, it contained explicit guidelines for implementing integrated technology solutions, such as building a national data centre, improving digital government services, integrating Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technologies into the Syrian service system, and developing digital infrastructure.

A Comprehensive Digital Transformation Roadmap

This move is part of GO Telecom’s plan to become a more prominent regional supplier of technology and telecommunications solutions. Al Mansour underlined that the group views the Syrian market as a promising strategic opportunity for growing its business in technology and digital transformation, and that it aims to expand the Saudi digital experience to sister countries.

In keeping with its goal of becoming a full-service provider of cutting-edge digital solutions, he continued, the company is currently shifting towards offering integrated smart services, such as cloud computing, digital service platforms, and artificial intelligence.

Partnership to Advance Syrian Technical Capabilities

Al Mansour stressed in his closing remarks that GO Telecom and its subsidiary, Ejad Technology, are prepared to serve as Syria’s reliable strategic partner in its digital transformation. He continued, “We are certain that we can help Syria’s digital infrastructure and foster technological change in line with global norms.”

The group clarified that this action is in line with its goal of fostering regional collaboration and digital innovation by bringing Saudi Arabia’s successful digital transformation experience to new markets and assisting in the creation of a sustainable digital future.

Read more: KSA Envisions Greater Collaboration With Central Asian Nations

Syrian Finance Minister: Imminent Sectors Will Soon See Saudi Investments

Syrian Finance Minister Mohammad Barniyeh announced concrete measures to reinforce economic cooperation between the two nations, especially in crucial areas like energy, in a parallel development that demonstrates the vibrancy of the new Syrian-Saudi economic ties.

According to Barniyeh, who made this statement in an interview with Syria TV, Damascus is currently working to expand its investment opportunities for Saudi partners. A high-level Saudi economic delegation is scheduled to travel to Syria shortly to explore potential joint ventures in several sectors.

Barniyeh called the forthcoming visit “promising” and “important,” highlighting that the anticipated results go beyond simple agreements and could lead to large Saudi investments. This would change the Syrian economy and open the door for genuine collaborations between the private sectors in both nations.

Read more: Saudi Arabia & Syria: New Financial Assistance & Investments, Sanctions Lifted!

Damascus and Riyadh to Cooperate on Security

The Saudi-Syrian partnership has expanded beyond technical and economic spheres to security, with Damascus seeking to learn from Saudi Arabia’s expertise in developing a more sophisticated and efficient security system. In this regard, Noureddine Al-Baba, the official spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Interior, disclosed that the Saudi Ministry of Interior is implementing joint workshops and training sessions to adapt its successful security experience to the Syrian context.

In remarks to Al-Arabiya, Al-Baba stated that the expected collaboration will consist of two primary elements. The first is hosting workshops at the level of different security directorates, such as those that deal with highway security, immigration and passports, criminal security, diplomatic protection, and other crucial departments. These workshops, he added, will focus on examining the parallels and discrepancies between the security systems of the two nations to pinpoint Syria’s unique requirements and offer workable answers based on the cutting-edge Saudi model.

The second part of the collaboration entails collaborating with Saudi authorities to implement advanced training programmes for Syrian security forces, focusing on high-priority areas like border control, pilgrim protection, highway security, and combating terrorism and drug smuggling. This involves utilising the Kingdom’s embraced technologies. Furthermore, Al-Baba asserts that these actions show a sincere desire to improve Syria’s security performance and pave the way for positive regional alliances built on knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Last April, the Syrian Ministry of Interior visited the Kingdom, fostering collaboration. A high-level Syrian security delegation was hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Interior to review the procedures of the Kingdom’s security institutions. During the visit, there were in-depth talks about how to take advantage of Saudi Arabia’s sophisticated security system, especially concerning the security administration’s technological infrastructure and how it handles security challenges and crises.

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High-Level Saudi Visit

The recent visit to Damascus by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who led a high-level economic delegation, had strategic implications for bolstering Syria’s stability. It also established favourable conditions for the resumption of investment and economic activity in the nation.

According to diplomatic sources, the visit demonstrated a distinct change in Saudi policy regarding Syria. The country no longer only relies on political stances that support and ensure the Syrian path but also wants to actively participate in the reconstruction of the country’s economic infrastructure. The most notable of these stances was the decision by Trump to remove the sanctions from the centre of Riyadh after mediation with the United States.

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