Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met on Thursday with a senior German economic delegation led by Niels Annen, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), to discuss expanding bilateral economic ties, investment opportunities, and Syria’s post-war reconstruction agenda.
According to a statement from the Syrian Presidency, President Sharaa hosted a roundtable at the People’s Palace in Damascus with Annen, executives from major German companies, and members of the Syrian-German Business Council. The meeting was attended by key Syrian officials, including Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani, Energy Minister Mohammad Al-Bashir, and Central Bank Governor Safwan Raslan.
Discussions focused on deepening economic and investment cooperation, broadening strategic partnerships, and capitalizing on emerging opportunities in Syria, particularly in infrastructure and reconstruction projects. Participants also explored avenues for knowledge transfer and technical collaboration across multiple sectors.
Inauguration of the “German House” in Damascus
The roundtable followed the official opening of the “German House” at the Golden Mazzeh Hotel in Damascus by the BMZ. The initiative aims to strengthen German development cooperation with Syria, improve local living conditions, and support sustainable development frameworks.
Foreign Minister Shibani and State Secretary Annen attended the opening ceremony alongside diplomatic mission heads, representatives of international organizations, civil society leaders, and German corporate delegates. The facility will host both the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the KfW Development Bank under the BMZ umbrella.
Welcoming the delegation, Shibani affirmed Syria’s openness to international partnerships and extended a warm greeting to German corporate and development representatives. Annen described the establishment of the German House as a milestone in Syrian-German relations, noting that proximity to local partners will facilitate direct communication and enable tangible improvements in daily life.
€337 Million in Active Development Projects
Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Vice Chair of the GIZ Management Board, said that although the agency had previously been forced to manage its Syria portfolio remotely due to the conflict, it remained committed to supporting the Syrian population.
Hoven revealed that GIZ is currently implementing sixteen projects across Syria with a total value of €337 million, including €70 million allocated for programs launched this year. These initiatives focus on youth vocational training and employment, the rehabilitation of agricultural irrigation systems, and the strengthening of civic resource centers that address civil and property rights.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
