At the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, on Dec. 9, 2024. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L’Orient-Le Jour)
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met Tuesday evening in Damascus with Lebanese Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Bisat, who is accompanied by a Lebanese economic delegation for a visit during which the creation of the Lebanese-Syrian Business Council is notably set to be announced, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Following his meeting with the Syrian president, Bisat told LBCI that the discussions focused on several sectors, including energy, transportation, railway, oil, tourism, and trade. He noted that Sharaa emphasized the role of the private sector, which is expected to be the driving force behind cooperation in these areas.
The Syrian president also said that "the economy is more important than politics," according to Bisat. He also highlighted "the importance of investments between the two countries to build a good bilateral state relationship." The Lebanese minister called for working toward "economic integration between the two countries."
This visit is part of the rapprochement initiated in recent months between Beirut and Damascus, as the new authorities in both countries have expressed their desire to strengthen their economic cooperation while attempting to turn the page on decades of relations marked by Syrian tutelage over Lebanon and several unresolved bilateral issues.
