USEFUL BUSINESS INFORMATION ON SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

1. Country Brief:

A. Introduction - Official Name:  Syrian Arab Republic.

Capital:  Damascus. Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon, ostensibly in a peacekeeping capacity. In recent years, Syria and Israel have held occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights.

B. Climate -  A pleasant and varied Mediterranean climate with four distinct seasons

Average Temperature: 32° C. (90° F) in summer, 10° C 50° F) in winter, 22° C (72° F) in Spring and Autumn.

C. Geographical Area - 185.000 Km2 (71.500 sq.miles).

D. Language - Arabic.

E. Currency With Exchange Rate - Syria Pounds

1 SYP = 0.0193611 USD

F. Population - 19,314,747(July 2007 estimate).

G. Major Cities - Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Latakia, Deir Ezzor, Idlib, Al Hassakeh, Al Raqqa, Suweida, Daraa, Tartous, Quneitra.

2. Transportation:

A. Railway - total: 2,743 km
standard gauge: 2,425 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 318 km 1.050-m gauge (2002).

B. Road - Total: 41,451 km, Paved: 9,575 km (including 877 km of expressways), Unpaved: 31,876 km (1997).

C. Airports - Airports - with paved runways total: 24

Airports - with unpaved runways total: 68

D. Waterways - 870 km (minimal economic importance).

E. Sea ports - Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus.

3. Economy:

A. Major Manufacturing -

B. Major Export – Major exports include crude oil, refined products, raw cotton, clothing, fruits, and cereal grains. Earnings from oil exports are one of the government's most important sources of foreign exchange

C. Major Import - The bulk of Syrian imports have been raw materials essential for industry, agriculture, equipment, and machinery.

D. Major Industry - The major manufacturing industry in Syria is the production of cotton and silk textiles. Cement production is also important and growing industries include glass, soap, flour, vegetable oil and tobacco.

E. Trade balance -Exports: US$4.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000). Imports: US$3.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000).

4. Trade Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Trade shows and Exhibitions in Syrian Arab Republic:

Major Trade Associations

Chambers of Commerce

ICC Syria

St. Abdul Malek Ben Marwan

Abou Roumaneh

P.O. Box 2908

Damascus, Syria

Tel. +963 11 334 4391/2

Fax +963 11 334 4393

E-mail [email protected]

Major Trade Shows

5. Useful links: