The Syria Britain Business Council (www.syriabritainbusiness.org) held its conference in Damascus. CMEC speaks to delegates, and others, including the Orthodox Patriarch of Damascus, on Syria and its future.
The Syria British Business Council held its conference in Damascus on 1st July 2026. A parliamentary delegation, jointly organised by CMEC and LMEC (The Labour Middle East Council) joined the conference. Speaking from Damascus, CMEC Director, Charlotte Leslie, interviews delegates and religious leaders during the conference to hear their views.
First Parliamentary Delegation back in Syria since CMEC's Delegation of 2011: The cross-party Parliamentary delegation of Charlie Dewhirst MP, Alan Gemmell MP, and Melanie Ward MP, attended the conference and, during its visit, held an extensive programme of meetings with representatives of the Syrian private sector, civil society organisations, religious leaders and members of the new Syrian Government. This was the first delegation of parliamentarians, since CMEC's delegation in February 2011. The visit reflected a shared commitment to rebuilding constructive links between the United Kingdom and Syria and to supporting Syria's economic recovery through dialogue, trade and investment.
The SBBC Conference: The conference brought together 270 delegates, including a large British and international delegation, alongside senior representatives of the Syrian Government and private sector. Among those attending were H.E. Dr Nidal Al-Shaar, Minister of Economy, H.E. Mr. Yisr Barnieh, Minister of Finance, H.E. Mr. Yazen al-Salhani, Minister of Tourism, H.E. Dr. Yaarub Badr, Minister for Transport, H.E. Mr Talal al-Hilali, Chairman of the Syrian Investment Authority (SIA) and H.E. Mustafa Abdul Razzaq, Minister of Public Works and Housing. Discussions focused on opportunities in energy, finance, transport and logistics, the built environment, education and the role of women in business.
The conference was chaired by Jon Wilks CMG, Senior Advisor to the SBBC. Delegates were welcomed by Mounzer Nazha, Chairman of the SBBC Executive Committee, who reaffirmed the Council's commitment to rebuilding commercial links between Syria, Britain and the wider international business community.
The conference was opened by H.E. Dr Nidal Al-Shaar, Minister of Economy, who praised the SBBC's role in reconnecting Syrian business with Britain and the wider international business community. He was joined by members of the SBBC Advisory Board and the delegation of British parliamentarians.