MANAMA: Bahrain and Syria must do more to explore bilateral trade and investment opportunities, says a top diplomat. Syrian Ambassador Suleiman Sarra said several agreements had been signed to bolster their economic interests but these had yet to be activated.
"There are a lot of agreements between the two countries that need to be activated or an executive programme needs to be put into affect," he told the GDN.
In 2000, an agreement was signed for co-ordination and co-operation between the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the Union of Syrian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
A deal to set up a Syrian and Bahrain Business Council was also signed between the two countries at the same time, added Mr Sarra.
He said officials were planning to arrange a meeting between the Bahrain and Syrian Bilateral Committee to promote commercial and economic ties.
"We are also working on a seminar/symposium on investment in Syria," said Mr Sarra.
"We are in contact with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and BCCI to see when is the most appropriate time to hold this."
Bahrain's imports from Syria stood at BD3.2 million last year and exports to Syria at BD19.6m.
Both figures were significantly up on those of 2006, when Bahrain's imports from Syria were BD1.9m and Bahrain's exports to Syria BD9.2m.
Imports from Syria to Bahrain included food items such as fruits, vegetables, iron, petroleum coke, leather and electrical goods.
While exports from Bahrain to Syria comprised aluminium items such as pipes, alloys, bars, cables, blades, sheets, semi-finished products, as well as air-conditioning components, plastics, sail boats, and sheep and goat skin.
"It's good it is increasing but if you look at the potential of trade between the two countries there is a lot of room for improvement," said Mr Sarra.
Mr Sarra said Bahrain and Syria enjoyed excellent relations and testimony of this could be seen during the recent visit of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.
During the visit Mr Al Assad met with His Majesty King Hamad and other leaders to discuss ways of furthering bilateral ties.
Talks also focussed on inter-Arab relations, the current situation in Iraq and the Palestinian issue.
The ambassador said there were many opportunities for Bahrain and the region to invest in Syrian's blossoming tourism industry.
He said in the past the country's tourism industry had been overshadowed by prejudices, political tensions in the Middle East and stereotypes, but now it was becoming a major destination and there were many opportunities for investors.
Mr Sarra said the Tourism Ministry had a very ambitious plan to develop the industry and was encouraging investors in the region to back some of its initiatives for restaurants, hotels and other projects.
"This month there is an investment forum on tourism in Syria and people from the region and around the world will go to look at various opportunities," he said.
"It is a forum and showroom where the Tourism Ministry can present their projects and look at possibilities for investment.
"They concentrate on the region and the Gulf but also many Syrian expatriates are coming back to Syria to invest because there are a lot of changes."
The First Arab Tourism Investment Forum and the Fifth International Tourism Investment Market Forum will be held from April 28 to 30 in Damascus.
Mr Sarra said many Bahraini tourists travelled to Syria for religious and historical tourism.
"Syria is a medium sized country that has great variety, we have a coast on the Mediterranean, lush green mountains, river plains, agriculture and a so-called Syrian desert," he said.
"In Syria you have religious, educational, archaeological tourism and entertainment.
"Putting aside stereotypes and clichŽs it is a very safe country that is good for families."
Meanwhile, Mr Sarra said it was an important step that Syria and Lebanon had decided in October to establish formal diplomatic relations with each other following 60 years since the two countries obtained independence from French colonial rule.
A Syrian Embassy in Beirut opened in December and a Lebanese Embassy in Damascus in March.
Mr Sarra said Michel Al Khoury, now Lebanese Ambassador to Cyprus, had been nominated as the Lebanese Ambassador to Syria and the Syrian Ambassador to Kuwait Ali Abdul Karim as the Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon.
Both were expected to take up their positions in the near future, added Mr Sarra.
He was speaking ahead of the 63rd Syrian Arab Republic National Day, which is held annually tomorrow.
The Syrian Embassy in Bahrain will mark the event with an invitation-only reception at the Golden Tulip Hotel on Wednesday at 7pm.
becky@gdn.com.bh
