Damascus, Syria – Syria officially resumed trading on the Damascus Securities Exchange on Monday after a six-month suspension, in a move the government calls a symbol of economic revival. The relaunch was marked by a high-profile ceremony in the capital, attended by key government officials, business leaders, and investors.
According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the event included a keynote speech from Mohammed Yaser Bernia, Minister of Finance in the Syrian transitional government. He framed the reopening as “a message that the Syrian economy is moving forward.”
Bernia also announced a new direction for the exchange: transitioning it into a privately-run entity aimed at becoming a hub for economic development. “We aim to align with digital trends and provide a real centre for Syria’s economic recovery,” he said, underscoring the government’s focus on fairness, private sector leadership, and attracting investment.
This step comes on the heels of another major economic announcement. Just days earlier, on May 29, the Syrian transitional government signed a $7 billion international energy agreement. The deal includes development of four combined-cycle gas turbine power plants across Syria, with an expected generation capacity of 4,000 megawatts, as well as a 1,000-megawatt solar power plant in the south.
Related: Syrian Government Signs $7 Billion Agreement to Bolster Energy Sector
The partnership involves firms from Qatar, Turkey, and the U.S., including Power International USA, OrbaCon Holding, and Cengiz Energy. Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed Al-Bashir hailed the deal as a “historic moment” for the war-torn country’s rebuilding efforts. He emphasized that the investments will both modernize Syria’s fragile energy grid and create up to 300,000 jobs, directly and indirectly.
Ramiz Al-Khayyat, CEO of OrbaCon Holding, described the agreement as a “new chapter in Syria’s reconstruction,” with a focus on long-term self-sufficiency and sustainable growth.
