Dubai Chamber to organise Partnership to Invest in Future Syria to discuss country's economic recovery and capacity building

The conference marks the second meeting of the Working Group on Economic Recovery and Development, which is co-chaired by the UAE and Germany. One of the four key work streams identified by the Working Group to achieve the vision of a dynamic, free-market Syrian economy is "Private-Sector Engagement," a stream that is chaired by the UAE.

The conference will feature participation by leading Syrian and Emirati business leaders and entrepreneurs. A range of international experts on economic and social development will also take part in "Partnership to Invest in Future Syria." These experts will provide in-depth presentations - and take part in sustained discussions - on the Syrian economy and strategies for supporting the country's future development and growth.

His Excellency Hamad Buamim, Director General, Dubai Chamber, said that the city's strategic position as a regional business hub makes it an ideal platform to energise private-sector engagement and promote Syria's economic capacity building. He added that the discussions will help identify potential partnership opportunities across all sectors of the Syrian economy, including agriculture, manufacturing, energy, construction, services, public administration, healthcare and telecommunications, among others.

The conference will feature four panel discussions, covering economic capacity building, the role of the private sector, core sector analysis, and the socioeconomic implications of infrastructure investment.

The first session - "Economic Capacity Building: Challenges and Opportunities" - will examine how Syrian economic capacity can be expanded, including by enhancing local skills through knowledge transfer in sectors such as finance, trade and infrastructure. This discussion will be informed by a review of relevant best practices in the UAE and internationally.

A parallel session, "The Role of the Private Sector in Syrian Economic Recovery," will focus on how the private sector in Syria can be strengthened, drawing upon the experience of countries such as the UAE. During this session, participants will discuss strategies to support public-private partnerships and increase foreign direct investment.

The third session of the day has been titled, "Sectoral Analysis: Building the Core Sectors of the Economy." This discussion will include a gap analysis of the current situation and future requirements, and highlight opportunities to facilitate foreign investment through innovative models, such as the establishment of Special Economic Zones.

In parallel, the fourth session will focus on: "Infrastructure Investment for Social Growth." Participants in this discussion will explore how infrastructure development projects can address social challenges, especially in areas such as housing, education and healthcare. In this regard, participants will assess the outlook for Syrian economic recovery in the context of the UAE's successful infrastructure development model.

"Partnership to Invest in Future Syria" will take place from 9AM-5PM on November 21, 2012, at the Joharah Ballroom in Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.