Damascus - The national investment map will contribute in showing the various natural sources in Syria in scientific way which leads to better exploitation, correct planning and offering the objective substitutes for investors.
The Syrian Investment Commission (SIC) is working in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program UNDP on establishing this map which will be issued next year in several languages.
During a symposium held with participation of Omani and Malaysian delegations, SIC General Director Ahmad Abdul Aziz said "We want the investment map to achieve true and important increase to the economic indicators in general and investment in particular, taking into consideration the projects of strategic importance to be marketed locally and internationally on its website.
Abdul Aziz added that the data was prepared, reviewed and tackled on the computer, electronic media and different software to get the map of national investment in digital form, in addition to the preparation of the Atlas Investment Map, charts and illustrations and the drafting of the final report of the map to represent a database for the planners and decision and policy-makers, investors, researchers, academics and others.
Regarding the prospects of investment in Syria, Abdul Aziz pointed out that 103 projects had been included during the first half of 2009 totaled to S.P.160 billion, with increase of 20 percent in comparison to the same period of 2008.
The number of foreign enterprises included in the Investment Promotion Law for 2009 reached 13 totaled to S.P.11731 million and ensure 2530 job opportunities, including 8 projects in industry, one in agriculture, 2 in transport and 2 in other fields, he said.
He added that Syria's success in attracting investments over the past five years, was not only in the volume of direct investment flows but also through turning toward real economic sectors, particularly industry, agriculture, tourism, banking, insurance and financial services, telecommunications, data technology which kept the Syrian economy away from the effects of the global financial crisis.
The government stressed that marketing the investment is very important and Syria represents the correct place for the true investment because its strategic geographical position made it a crossing point for the regional and international markets.
By H.Zain/ Kh. Aridi
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2009
