Expanded Meeting at the Damascus and its Countryside Chamber of Industry to Establish a Roadmap for Reviving the Syrian Textile Sector
Expanded Meeting at the Damascus and its Countryside Chamber of Industry to Establish a Roadmap for Reviving the Syrian Textile Sector
With the participation of industrial leadership, an expanded meeting was held at the headquarters of the Damascus and its Countryside Chamber of Industry. The meeting aimed to alleviate the concerns of textile industrialists and restore the prominence of one of Syria’s most ancient industries. The session was chaired by Dr. Mazen Dirwan, President of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Industry, and Eng. Mohammad Ayman Al-Moulawi, President of the Chamber, in the presence of Mr. Nour Al-Din Samha, Head of the Textile Sector, and Mr. Adham Al-Tabbaa, Deputy Head of the Textile Sector.
High-Level Attendance:
The meeting was attended by: Mr. Abdullah Al-Zayed, Secretary of the Chamber; Mr. Karim Al-Khaja, Board Member; Mr. Anas Traboulsi and Mr. Hassan Daaboul, Board Members; Mr. Wasim Saad, Director of the Chamber; and Mr. Khaldoun Dado, Director of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Industry.
Textiles: The Engine of Employment and Export:
Eng. Mohammad Ayman Al-Moulawi emphasized that the textile industry is the largest employer in Syria and the second-largest contributor to national exports. He noted that the Syrian product currently possesses a "golden opportunity" due to its balance of quality and price, granting it a competitive edge to enter European and global markets if a supportive environment is provided.
Representing and Reassuring Industrialists:
For his part, Dr. Mazen Dirwan stressed that the Federation of Chambers of Industry serves as the voice of industrialists to decision-makers, seeking to establish stability and reassurance by removing previous obstacles. He reviewed the results of his field visits to Aleppo and Hama, confirming that the outcomes of these visits will form the basis for upcoming development plans.
Urgent Recommendations and Demands:
Industrialists reviewed a package of challenges and proposals, including:
Customs Reform: Imposing fair duties on production inputs and activating mechanisms for duty drawbacks upon export.
Energy Support: Securing subsidized energy sources (fuel oil) for dyeing and finishing facilities, and rejecting the practice of burdening industrialists with electricity grid losses.
Production Integration: Closing gaps across the production chain—from yarn to the finished product—while leveraging Syria’s advantage in cotton cultivation.
Protection of Small Enterprises: Giving special attention to small workshops as they are the most vulnerable to crises, and providing conditions to transition them into large-scale facilities.
Export as a Strategic Choice:
The meeting concluded that orienting toward exports is an indispensable choice. This requires a clear government directive to support the entry of Syrian products into foreign markets by overcoming shipping obstacles and reducing production costs.
Conclusion:
Participants affirmed that direct communication between economic decision-makers and sector representatives is the only guarantee for transforming these visions into tangible results that restore the Syrian textile identity’s regional and international standing
