Syria has recently achieved a remarkable progress in economic reforms, and thereby could attract   Arab and foreign investments estimated at billions of dollars. This was expressed  Kuwaiti Minister of Trade and Industry Falah al-Hajiri on Tuesday in a speech to the opening session of the 'Investment Forum in Syria'.

"The incentives provided  by Syrian government to the investors in general and to the gulf businessmen in particular contributed to the flow of investments into Syria”, he said noting that the  security, stability, legal and legislative environment  Syria enjoys are all encouraging elements for  attracting investments into Syria .

Director of Investment Commission in Syria Mostafa al-Kafri called  on Syrian and Kuwaiti businessmen to invest in Syria in economic and trade sectors. He stressed the government ‘s commitment to eliminate difficulties hindering investors projects in Syria.

He indicated  to the incentives and exemptions Syria provides for investors including the freedom of exchanging foreign currency, real estate ownership, and other measures on tax  exemptions of their imported  machines and  equipment .

###5- Oil agreement finalized by  Syrian oil ministry, Shell

Syrian ministry of oil and mineral  resources signed on Tuesday with Syria ‘s Shell d company cooperation  agreement for development of petrochemical industry in Syria.

The agreement provides for  implementing  joint  projects to develop petrochemical activities, including a training program carried out by Shell and a study to assess gas explorations projects in the country .

It also stipulates  conducting joint  studies on gas production, transport and distribution, and  on establishing gas-liquidation industry and encouraging other gas related activities  in Syria .

Commenting on the agreement Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Sufian al-Alaw said it  will contribute enhancing Syrian oil workers with  business  and technical skills in handling gas industry as a great  support  for the national economy.

 Shell ‘s  Deputy Chief Executive Abu-Aziz said that Shell  which has been existed in Syria for more than twenty years is looking forward for more cooperation relations

Earlier in the dayDeputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah al-Dardari discussed with Shell Oil Company Executive Manager Vander Faire cooperation between the Syrian government and Shell Company in Oil and natural gas areas .

 The two sides  also reviewed cooperation in exploration and investment of new sites in the context  of the available  oil investment opportunities in Syria .