From Melbourne. Syrian-Australian Chamber of Commerce officially launched
The director of the Syrian Investment Commission, Talal al-Hilali, announced on Sunday that the Syrian-Australian Chamber of Commerce has been officially launched from the city of Melbourne, in a move that was described as aimed at enhancing economic and trade cooperation between Syria and Australia.
Al-Hilali said in a post on the "X" platform, that the establishment of the chamber constitutes an important milestone in the development of bilateral relations and the opening of new channels of communication between businessmen and investors in the two countries.
Syria's investment system has become open to all investors, he said, stressing that they will be provided with "strong protection" under the framework of the new investment law No. 114, referring to the amendments through which the government seeks to attract capital and stimulate economic activity.
Australian Business Network
In July 2025, he announced in Sydney, Australia, the establishment of the Australia-Syrian Business Network as a non-profit organization to enhance trade and investment cooperation between the two countries and activate the role of the community in supporting the economy of their motherland, through practical initiatives and real partnerships, and contribute to stimulating the wheel of economic development in Syria.
According to its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ali Ramadan, the organization seeks to create a strong network of relationships between entrepreneurs and professionals, and support the establishment of new projects in Syria through the exchange of experiences and knowledge, facilitate investment opportunities, joint work, and connect Syrian companies with expansion opportunities in the Australian market, which opens new horizons for trade and mutual investment.
Ramadan explained that a board of directors of the network of Syrian talents has been set up in Australia to enhance communication between businessmen in Australia and Syria, encourage investments in the Syrian market, and open the doors of trade cooperation between Syrian businessmen at home and abroad.
Advantages of Law 114 of 2025
The Investment Law No. 114 of 2025 came as a fundamental amendment to Law 18 of 2021 with the aim of creating a more attractive and flexible investment climate after the lifting of sanctions and granting a more effective institutional framework by transforming the Syrian Investment Commission into a financially and administratively independent entity directly linked to the Presidency of the Republic, in addition to the establishment of the Supreme Council for Economic Development and the activation of the Investor Services Center as a single window that shortens the licensing procedures to a period not exceeding 15 days, in addition to expanding theThe scope of activities covered by the investment includes the industrial, agricultural, medical, tourism, technical and service sectors, in addition to BOT, PPP and real estate development projects.
The law provides unprecedented tax and customs incentives, most notably exemptions of up to 50% for ten years in development zones, additional rebates related to the employment of Syrian labor, and a full exemption for machinery and equipment from customs duties. The law also strengthens the legal guarantees for investors by protecting property from expropriation or seizure except by judicial decision and fair compensation, preventing the application of administrative decisions retroactively, allowing the transfer of profits and capital abroad, in addition to providing recourse to international arbitration.
One of the most prominent advantages of the law is allowing the foreign investor to own the project 100% without the need for a local partner, with the possibility of owning or leasing the land needed for the projects, and the freedom to dispose of assets and sell shares. The law affirms the principle of full equality between Syrian and foreign investors in rights, incentives and procedures.