Damascus: Syrian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdul Salam Haykal invited Jordanian companies and investors to participate in building a modern digital system to serve both countries and the wider region. Speaking during the Jordanian-Syrian Investment Forum in Damascus, organized by the Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA) in cooperation with the Syrian International Business Association (SIBA), Haykal said Syria's telecom and technology sector is "advancing rapidly" under a comprehensive reform vision.
According to Jordan News Agency, Haykal emphasized the growing rapprochement and commitment between Jordan and Syria as a "strategic" opportunity for the two countries' business communities. He noted that the new phase in relations opens unprecedented prospects for economic and investment cooperation. Haykal stated that Syria is entering a stage of "resetting its foundations," aimed at restoring its commercial identity and capacity to build alliances and partnerships. He highlighted Jordan as Syria's closest neighbor and a natural partner in this phase, recognizing Jordan's role in hosting Syrians during the crisis years.
Haykal pointed out that Syria's telecom and IT sector is experiencing accelerated growth, combining infrastructure investment with digital services, making it attractive to major companies, investment funds, and medium-sized firms seeking regional expansion. He emphasized the similarities between the two countries, particularly Jordan's experience in building its IT sector based on national talent, and noted Syria is adopting a similar model, enhancing prospects for knowledge exchange and the development of a knowledge-based economy.
Haykal mentioned that Syria chose Jordan as the first destination for its foreign visits, which has led to strengthened cooperation with Jordan's Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship and the establishment of four to five joint Syrian-Jordanian companies that have already entered the market. He advised companies seeking to enter the Syrian market to partner with local firms to better understand market dynamics and increase their chances of success.
On infrastructure projects, Haykal announced the launch of the "Silk Link" project to build Syria's internet backbone. The strategic project was awarded following a global tender involving 18 companies. He said the investment will enhance connectivity and improve communication services across cities and regions. Additionally, he noted that the project will enable large data capacities to pass through Syrian territory southward, creating additional opportunities for Jordanian networks and enhancing regional integration in telecommunications. There are plans to establish a joint Syrian-Jordanian data transit hub.
Haykal also announced a major fiber-optic infrastructure project inside Syrian cities, with investments nearing $2 billion, alongside opportunities in the internet service provider sector. He stated there is a trend toward unifying certain operational infrastructures of telecom companies to improve efficiency and create new investment opportunities. Overall, Haykal noted that Syria needs around 5,000 additional telecom towers to enhance service quality, representing a significant opportunity for investors, in addition to wide prospects in digital transformation, technical services, training, and capacity building.