ANTALYA - Syrian Trade Attache Dr. Mohammad Haj-Bakri said on Tuesday that Syria was a very attractive country for foreign investors, adding that Syrian people trusted Turkish businessmen more than other foreign businessmen and he invited Turkish businessmen to make investment in Syria.
Haj-Bakri attended a meeting organized by the Association of Industrialists and Businessmen in Antalya and gave information on commercial relations between Turkey and Syria.
Noting that there was not inflation in Syria so there was financial stability and gross domestic product was 17.9 billion U.S. dollars, Haj-Bakri invited foreign investors, particularly Turkish businessmen to Syria.
Stating that Syria had all facilities to attract foreign investors, Haj-Bakri stressed that relations between Turkey and Syria were very important.
Noting that Syria was an entrance door to Arab countries for Turkey while Turkey was an entrance door to Asia and Caucasus for Syria, Haj-Bakri stressed that the two countries had relations that had roots deep in history.
Stating that Syria would sign free trade areas agreements with Arab countries, Haj-Bakri said that also Turkish investors in Syria would benefit from those agreements as Syrian investors.
There had been intense efforts to develop bilateral commercial and economic relations and overcome problems, Haj-Bakri said and added that Syrian President Bashar al-Asad's visit to Turkey in January had further improved bilateral relations.
''We are working on opening of trade centers on Turkish border. We are planning to open honorary consulate in Gaziantep and consulate in Adana to consolidate our relations. Thus we assist Turkish citizens and businessmen. Syria gives privilege to Turkish businessmen. They can enter Syria without visa,'' he said.
(MS) 27.04.2004