The pavilion of China is seen in the Damascus International Fair held in the Fairgrounds of the Syrian capital Damascus on Aug. 28, 2019. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
"We have big hopes and faith in the Chinese companies that they will have a big role in the reconstruction process in Syria,"a Syrian minister says on the sideline of the fair.
DAMASCUS, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese companies taking part in the ongoing Damascus International Fair see a promising market in Syria in the post-war era, Chinese business representatives said on Monday.
At the Chinese pavilion in the Damascus' fair, several companies showcased their products, which are mainly related to the reconstruction process in Syria.
Jing Zhichun, overseas business manager of Shanghai Shangqi Group, told Xinhua that she is optimistic about her business in Syria.
"I think once the situation here got stabilized, here will come a fast-developing and growing market. I'm very optimistic about it," she said.
For her side, Zhou Dongyun, general director of China City of Syria's Adra Free Zone, said that the country still needs international support in the post-war time.
"To start some big projects here still needs international support and aid," she said. "We are focusing on projects that could improve people's livelihood."
The pavilion of China is seen in the Damascus International Fair held in the Fairgrounds of the Syrian capital Damascus on Aug. 28, 2019. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
In another corner in the Chinese pavilion, Wu Xiaomin, marketing manager of Fujian Sicheng International Trade Company, which is specialized in sales of household solar equipment, sanitary ware, pipes, and other household decoration types of equipment, said that the Chinese companies are offering good prices with good quality.
"Their feedback on our products is quite good. Because our products here are first-tier in our province, even in the whole of China. Here, we offer preferential prices with good quality," he told Xinhua.
Chinese participation is not only confined to the reconstruction materials as Chinese cars have become so popular with high demand in Syria because of their good quality and affordable prices.
Mustafa Akkad, supply chain and business development manager of Adaa Motors, which assembles Chinese cars in Syria, told Xinhua that Syria is a good place of investment for China.
"Now, in the Syrian market, there are many Chinese brands ... it's a good investment environment and hopefully the number of Chinese brands will continue to grow," he said.
In Adaa Motors' exhibition area, car brands of different countries such as China's JMC and France's Peugeot are on display.
"The Chinese brands provide great quality for great prices since the Syrian economy went through recession and the purchasing power of people has decreased," he said.
The pavilion of China is seen in the Damascus International Fair held in the Fairgrounds of the Syrian capital Damascus on Aug. 28, 2019. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
Meanwhile, Hussein Arnous, minister of Water Resources, told Xinhua on the sideline of the fair that the Syrian government pins big hopes on China for the reconstruction process.
"We have big hopes and faith in the Chinese companies that they will have a big role in the reconstruction process in Syria," the minister said.
With the participation of hundreds of foreign and local companies despite the U.S. warning of sanctions, the 61st round of the Damascus international trade fair kicked off in Syrian capital Damascus on Aug. 28.
Several companies from China, Russia, Iran, Belarus, and India are taking part in the fair.
Companies from the United Arab Emirates participated in the fair for the first time since the beginning of the Syrian crisis more than eight years ago.
On Aug. 22, U.S. embassy in Damascus posted calls on its social networking platforms for boycotting the fair and threatened sanctions against the companies that take part in the trade fair.
However, the Syrian government has repeatedly stressed that it will turn to friendly countries to overcome the negative impacts of the sanctions, which it says are "unfair and target the livelihood of the Syrians."
