Al-Shaar: It Is Time to Elevate Lebanese-Syrian Relations into a Partnership Driven by Will and Shared Interests
Beirut – Media Office of the Lebanese-Syrian Investment Forum 2026
The Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry, Dr. Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar, affirmed that the current phase presents a real opportunity for Lebanon and Syria to rebuild their economic relations on new, clearer, and more balanced foundations—shifting from a dynamic imposed by geographic proximity to a partnership anchored in mutual will and shared interests.
Minister al-Shaar’s remarks came during his participation in the Lebanese-Syrian Investment Forum 2026, held at the Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut, amidst broad ministerial, official, and economic representation from both nations, alongside delegates from economic bodies, investment agencies, the private sector, and business leaders.
Al-Shaar emphasized that Lebanon and Syria do not need to rediscover one another as much as they need to redefine their economic relations in a way that adapts to ongoing transformations in both countries and the wider region, while fully upholding the sovereignty, independent decision-making, and national interests of each state.
He noted that economic integration between both countries does not imply forfeiting competitive advantages or national specificities; rather, it relies on leveraging the inherent strengths and capabilities of each party to build a more balanced and sustainable economic foundation. He further underscored that Lebanon’s stability and economic prosperity directly serve Syria’s best interests.
Al-Shaar underlined the necessity of shifting economic relations from a conventional format to an institutionalized framework governed by clear agreements, protocols, and regulations. Such a shift fosters an environment of greater confidence for the private sector and investors, transforming available opportunities into practical projects and tangible partnerships. He highlighted that geographic proximity alone does not achieve economic integration; it fundamentally requires reliable institutions, efficient border crossings, commercial trade-financing banks, investing enterprises, and capital capable of evaluating risk.
In this context, al-Shaar placed particular emphasis on the role of the private sector in the upcoming phase, calling for the utilization of viable investment avenues and actively dismantling bureaucratic obstacles that hinder the movement of business leaders and investors across the borders.
He observed that the forum marks a prime opportunity to elevate the Lebanese-Syrian economic relationship to a higher level, where shared interests form the cornerstone of ongoing cooperation, transforming existing capacities into productive ventures and added economic value for both nations.
The Syrian participation carried distinct significance, as al-Shaar pointed out that the attending Syrian governmental delegation was the largest to visit Lebanon since the liberation, reflecting Damascus’s keen interest in reactivating channels of economic and investment cooperation with Beirut.
The Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry concluded by stressing that the road ahead requires building upon the direct dialogue initiated by the forum among government officials, economic bodies, and the private sector, while simultaneously refining regulatory and operational frameworks to enable more efficient trade flows, investments, and cross-border partnerships.
This vision aligns with the foundational objective of the inaugural edition of the Lebanese-Syrian Investment Forum 2026: providing an integrated platform that brings together economic policymakers, the private sector, and investment entities to bridge the gap between emerging opportunities and sustainable, real-world execution.
Media Office of the Lebanese-Syrian Investment Forum 2026
