Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS2781
2006-06-12 14:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
SECOND SYRIAN-EMIRATI ECONOMIC FORUM DRAWS
how-toVZCZCXRO5789 PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK DE RUEHDM #2781 1631400 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 121400Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9602 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 002781
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ELA
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH
TREASURY FOR GLASER/LOEFLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2016
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV SY
SUBJECT: SECOND SYRIAN-EMIRATI ECONOMIC FORUM DRAWS
PROMINENT PERSONALITIES, BUT GENERATES LOW EXPECTATIONS
REF: A. DAMASCUS 0005
B. DAMASCUS 2439
C. DAMASCUS 641
Classified By: CDA Kathy Johnson-Casares for reasons 1.4 b/d
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 002781
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ELA
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH
TREASURY FOR GLASER/LOEFLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2016
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV SY
SUBJECT: SECOND SYRIAN-EMIRATI ECONOMIC FORUM DRAWS
PROMINENT PERSONALITIES, BUT GENERATES LOW EXPECTATIONS
REF: A. DAMASCUS 0005
B. DAMASCUS 2439
C. DAMASCUS 641
Classified By: CDA Kathy Johnson-Casares for reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (SBU) The SARG continues to try to attract Gulf foreign
direct investment (FDI),as evidenced by the second
Syrian-Emirati Economic Forum, entitled "Visions Beyond
Investment," which opened in Damascus on June 10 and drew a
crowd of approximately 2000 the first day. The forum opening
featured statements by several prominent personalities
including former German Chancellor of Germany Gerhard
Schroeder, and was emceed by George Kerdahi, host of a
popular Middle East game show. In the past year, Gulf
investors awash in petro-dollars have taken a more active
interest in Syria - especially its booming real estate market
(ref A and B) - which was a point raised by Sheikh Tarek bin
Faysal al-Qasimi, CEO of the Economic Development Department
in Sharja, UAE. Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Abdullah
Dardari used the occasion to praise the investment climate in
Syria, focusing specifically on the SARG's estimates for
Syria's GDP growth in 2005 (4.5% overall and 5.5% for non-oil
exports) and its support for private sector job creation and
infrastructure development. Syrian press reports have
trumpeted the success of the forum, citing nine new bilateral
agreements and discussions of new private sector joint
ventures, and heralding the ground-breaking of Emirati Imaar
Group's $500 million real estate project that was started
over six months ago (ref C).
2. (SBU) Syrian business contacts who attended the forum's
opening day events offered a lukewarm reaction, with most
acknowledging that the forum represented a repackaging of the
same message and that they did not anticipate any
significant, tangible benefits as a result. During his
speech, Dardari was unable to offer any information when
asked about the proposed amendments to Syria's investment
law, human resource development in Syria, or the need for
foreign labor to assist in achieving economic reforms in
banking and finance. Furthermore, statements we heard by
Shroeder and al-Qasimi focused only marginally on promising
investment in Syria, with Schroeder speaking on issues
surrounding regional stability in the Middle East and Qamisi
highlighting UAE's economic success story.
3. (C) Comment: The Syrian-Emirati Economic Forum represents
another highly publicized event through which the SARG can
continue to hype Gulf FDI. However, the forum provided no
details on systemic changes that will encourage real economic
gain for Syria's economy. Attendance at the second day of
the forum, which was minimal and included next to no Emirati
attendees, suggests that the overall confidence of
participants in the potential outcomes of the forum are
limited. Despite the SARG's projections in its tenth
Five-Year plan indicating that future economic growth is
dependent on FDI, comments from some Syrian businessmen
suggest that the development of Syria's economy is not
contingent solely on Gulf investment - which is concentrated
in the real estate and tourism sectors - but on the SARG's
ability to support meaningful economic reform.
JOHNSON-CASARES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ELA
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH
TREASURY FOR GLASER/LOEFLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2016
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV SY
SUBJECT: SECOND SYRIAN-EMIRATI ECONOMIC FORUM DRAWS
PROMINENT PERSONALITIES, BUT GENERATES LOW EXPECTATIONS
REF: A. DAMASCUS 0005
B. DAMASCUS 2439
C. DAMASCUS 641
Classified By: CDA Kathy Johnson-Casares for reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (SBU) The SARG continues to try to attract Gulf foreign
direct investment (FDI),as evidenced by the second
Syrian-Emirati Economic Forum, entitled "Visions Beyond
Investment," which opened in Damascus on June 10 and drew a
crowd of approximately 2000 the first day. The forum opening
featured statements by several prominent personalities
including former German Chancellor of Germany Gerhard
Schroeder, and was emceed by George Kerdahi, host of a
popular Middle East game show. In the past year, Gulf
investors awash in petro-dollars have taken a more active
interest in Syria - especially its booming real estate market
(ref A and B) - which was a point raised by Sheikh Tarek bin
Faysal al-Qasimi, CEO of the Economic Development Department
in Sharja, UAE. Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Abdullah
Dardari used the occasion to praise the investment climate in
Syria, focusing specifically on the SARG's estimates for
Syria's GDP growth in 2005 (4.5% overall and 5.5% for non-oil
exports) and its support for private sector job creation and
infrastructure development. Syrian press reports have
trumpeted the success of the forum, citing nine new bilateral
agreements and discussions of new private sector joint
ventures, and heralding the ground-breaking of Emirati Imaar
Group's $500 million real estate project that was started
over six months ago (ref C).
2. (SBU) Syrian business contacts who attended the forum's
opening day events offered a lukewarm reaction, with most
acknowledging that the forum represented a repackaging of the
same message and that they did not anticipate any
significant, tangible benefits as a result. During his
speech, Dardari was unable to offer any information when
asked about the proposed amendments to Syria's investment
law, human resource development in Syria, or the need for
foreign labor to assist in achieving economic reforms in
banking and finance. Furthermore, statements we heard by
Shroeder and al-Qasimi focused only marginally on promising
investment in Syria, with Schroeder speaking on issues
surrounding regional stability in the Middle East and Qamisi
highlighting UAE's economic success story.
3. (C) Comment: The Syrian-Emirati Economic Forum represents
another highly publicized event through which the SARG can
continue to hype Gulf FDI. However, the forum provided no
details on systemic changes that will encourage real economic
gain for Syria's economy. Attendance at the second day of
the forum, which was minimal and included next to no Emirati
attendees, suggests that the overall confidence of
participants in the potential outcomes of the forum are
limited. Despite the SARG's projections in its tenth
Five-Year plan indicating that future economic growth is
dependent on FDI, comments from some Syrian businessmen
suggest that the development of Syria's economy is not
contingent solely on Gulf investment - which is concentrated
in the real estate and tourism sectors - but on the SARG's
ability to support meaningful economic reform.
JOHNSON-CASARES