Syria seeks closer cooperation with Egypt

Syria is seeking a much closer relationship with Egypt, a very important country in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has called for the restoration and deepening of relations with Egypt, saying that ties between the two countries ‘are not a luxury, but a duty,’ as Damascus seeks closer cooperation with Cairo amid growing regional challenges and an urgent push for economic recovery.

Speaking during a meeting in Damascus with a delegation from the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, Sharaa underscored the historical and strategic importance of Syrian-Egyptian relations, signalling a clear desire to move beyond years of political coldness and advance towards broader economic and security coordination.

‘Throughout history, Syrian-Egyptian integration has been essential for the stability of the region, both economically and strategically and in terms of security,’ Al-Sharaa said, according to the state news agency SANA. ‘Our relationship with Egypt is not a matter of choice or prestige; it is an obligation, and it must be put on the right track.’

His comments come as Syria, following the lifting of international sanctions and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime late last year, seeks to attract regional partners and foreign investment to rebuild an economy devastated by more than a decade of conflict.

Sharaa said Syria and Egypt face similar political, economic and security challenges, arguing that closer coordination would benefit not only both states but also the Arab world in general. ‘When Syria and Egypt come closer together, the entire Arab nation is strengthened,’ he said.

While acknowledging the scale of destruction in Syria, the president presented reconstruction as an opportunity, emphasising that Egyptian companies should play a leading role. He highlighted Egypt's experience in infrastructure and energy development over the past decade, describing it as a valuable asset for Syria's reconstruction phase.

‘Egyptian companies are among those most entitled to contribute to the reconstruction,’ he said, pointing to opportunities in infrastructure, power generation and energy projects.

Al-Sharaa detailed what he described as a clearer Syrian economic policy, focused on security stability and private sector-driven growth.

He said the government had begun to reduce state participation in the market, opening space for foreign and domestic investment and limiting direct competition from public institutions.

Priority sectors identified for cooperation include ports, offshore gas exploration in the Mediterranean, rehabilitation of the oil sector, railways, and fibre optic networks aimed at connecting Europe and China through Syrian territory. He also highlighted the importance of developing a shared food basket with Egypt and Iraq to reduce dependence on costly imports from outside the region.

The president also expressed his gratitude to Egypt for hosting Syrian refugees during the war, describing the reception as a reflection of the long-standing ties between the two peoples. He added that the similarities between the Syrian and Egyptian markets will facilitate trade cooperation, and pledged that the Syrian authorities will remove the obstacles faced by Egyptian investors.

Syria, he said, is once again attracting international interest, with American, European and Gulf companies investing over the past year. He argued that economic interdependence could contribute to political stability and provide a protective framework for the region in the face of persistent threats and rivalries.

Al-Sharaa's comments came ahead of the Syrian-Egyptian Economic Forum, to be held in Damascus under the patronage of Syria's Ministry of Economy and Industry. The event, jointly organised by the Syrian and Egyptian chambers of commerce, brings together senior officials and business figures from both countries.

The forum is the most important bilateral economic meeting since the fall of the Al-Assad government in late 2024 and comes after the signing last week of two memoranda of understanding between Cairo and Damascus. The agreements cover cooperation on the supply of Egyptian gas to Syria for electricity generation and the satisfaction of Syrian needs for petroleum products.

According to Syrian trade data cited by SANA, around 30,000 Syrian investors are currently operating in Egypt, having established more than 16,300 companies and 7,000 factories and workshops, with investments valued at billions of dollars. In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 1,400 new Syrian companies were registered in Egypt.

Since Al-Assad's overthrow in December 2024, Syria's new leadership has sought to normalise regional relations and position the country as an emerging investment destination, betting that economic partnerships, particularly with key Arab states such as Egypt, can help anchor political stability and accelerate reconstruction.