SHOTLIST:

1. VARIOUS OF FAIR AREA IN DAMASCUS

2. TURKISH TRADE MINISTER SPEAKING AT FAIR

3. SYRIAN PRESIDENT AHMAD AL-SHARA SPEAKING AT FAIR

4. SAUDI ARABIAN DEPUTY MINISTER OF ABDULLAH AL-DUBAYHI SPEAKING AT FAIR

5. VARIOUS OF CELEBRATIONS DAMASCUS, SYRIA - AUGUST 27: The opening of the 62nd International Damascus Fair, held in the Syrian capital Damascus following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, took place with the participation of President Ahmed Sharif on Wednesday (August 27).

President Ahmed Shara, Turkish Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat, and Saudi Arabia Deputy Minister of Investment Abdullah Al-Dubeyhi delivered opening speeches at the ceremony.

In his speech, President Shara emphasized that Damascus holds a distinguished place among the world's capitals and stated that the Syrian people have a strong background in trade and industry.

Saying that Syria had gone through a period alien to its history under a repressive and despotic regime in the past, Shara said, “During this process, the spirit of the people changed, their determination weakened, and investors fled the country. Syria became a country that lost its economic appeal, and its people abandoned it.”

However, Shara conveyed that this dark period ended with the victory of the Syrian people and the collapse of the old regime, saying, “Today, those who love Syria, its people, its heroes, and the heirs of its past have returned. They have come together to rebuild the country and repair the broken ties.”

Emphasizing that the priority of the new Syria since the fall of the Baath regime on December 8, 2024, has been security stability and economic development, Shara said, “Plans have been made to increase agricultural and industrial production, the return of migrants and refugees has been targeted, and basic infrastructure such as electricity, water, and health services has begun to be gradually improved.”

Shara stated, “Today, in Damascus, the world's oldest settlement, we are gathering at the region's first and unique fairgrounds to revive a legacy of our deep-rooted economic history. Together, we are taking steps toward a bright future with the International Damascus Fair.”

- “The International Damascus Fair is a great success for the new Syria.”

Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan conveyed his greetings to Syrian President Ahmed Shara, the Syrian people, and the fair participants.

Emphasizing that the International Damascus Fair is a great success for the new Syria, Bolat noted that Turkey has the longest land border with Syria and that there are strong kinship ties between the two countries.

Minister Bolat underscored his belief that in the new era, Syria will achieve a much stronger structure in the fields of defense, economy, and diplomacy compared to the past.

More than 1,000 companies from 25 countries are participating in the fair, which will continue until September 5.

Meanwhile, the 61st International Damascus Fair was held in 2019.