Syria's Economy Will Be Open for Foreign Investment, Foreign Minister Says

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (X)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (X)
TT

Syria's Economy Will Be Open for Foreign Investment, Foreign Minister Says

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (X)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (X)

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani said on Wednesday that the country will open its economy to foreign investment and that Damascus is also working on energy and electricity partnerships with Gulf states.
"Syria's economic resources are diverse and we have a lot of sectors - industry, tourism... of course the economy in the future will be open and will open the road for foreign investment," he said at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
Shibani paid separate visits to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in early January, during which he discussed bolstering ties.
At Davos, Shibani said a committee of representatives from various groups would work on the country's new constitution after holding a national dialogue, which Syria's leadership says will include all segments of society to chart a path for the nation after the opposition factions ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
"We need an inclusive transition leading to a new constitution, free and fair elections, in a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that will restore Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity," UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen said at a separate press conference in Damascus on Wednesday.
Both Pedersen and Shibani reiterated calls for ending the international sanctions imposed on Syria.



Emirates Airline to Resume Flights to Beirut

Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300ER planes are seen at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo
Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300ER planes are seen at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo
TT

Emirates Airline to Resume Flights to Beirut

Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300ER planes are seen at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo
Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300ER planes are seen at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo

Emirates airline will resume flights to Beirut on February 1 after a four-month suspension triggered by conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a statement said on Friday.

The Middle East's biggest airline will first offer a daily return flight and scale up to two services per day from April 1, AFP quoted the statement as saying.

Emirates will also resume a daily flight to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, from February 1, it added.

The Dubai-based, state-owned carrier was one of several regional airlines to suspend Beirut services in late September as tensions soared between Israel and Hezbollah.

A truce came into effect on November 27, ending over a year of hostilities.