Syria’s General Directorate of Ports announced Thursday the signing of a significant memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China’s Fidi Contracting Company to develop over 1 million square meters across two key free trade zones, marking a major step in Syria’s bid to attract foreign investment.
According to an official statement published on Telegram, the deal grants Fidi full investment rights in the Hassia Free Zone in central Homs Province, covering approximately 850,000 square meters (210 acres). The project will establish an integrated industrial zone that includes specialized factories and production facilities, aimed at revitalizing Syria’s manufacturing and export capacity.
In addition to the Homs development, the MoU allows Fidi to invest in 300,000 square meters (74 acres) of the Adra Free Zone near Damascus, where it plans to launch commercial and service-oriented projects to meet both local and regional market needs.
The 20-year contract stipulates that the Chinese firm must execute the project in phases according to a fixed timeline, ensuring sustained economic viability and maximizing the strategic role of free zones in generating employment, boosting exports, and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
The announcement comes on the heels of a series of high-level meetings between Chinese officials and Syria’s new government, following dramatic political changes in the country. Former President Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December 2024, marking the end of the Baath Party's rule since 1963.
In January 2025, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a prominent leader of the anti-regime coalition, was sworn in as transitional president, ushering in a new era of governance and international outreach.
The deal with China is seen as part of Syria’s broader push to rebuild infrastructure, reopen trade corridors, and restore investor confidence, particularly from countries willing to engage with the new transitional administration. Analysts view China’s role as pivotal, given its Belt and Road ambitions and experience in post-conflict reconstruction.
Further details on the timeline and financing of the projects are expected in the coming months as implementation begins.
Swiss prosecutors say a deadly New Year’s Eve fire at a bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana likely started when sparkling candles were held too c...
The United Nations on Friday voiced serious concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, warning that rising violence is increasing...
U.S. authorities say they have thwarted an ISIS‑inspired terrorist attack planned for New Year’s Eve in the town of Mint Hill, North Carolina, arr...
Ukrainian officials reported on Friday that thousands of children and their parents were evacuated from frontline areas in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro...
Yemen’s southern separatists have announced plans to hold a referendum on independence from the north within two years, a move likely to further esc...
Türkiye will never tolerate coercion, piracy, or banditry in its maritime “blue homeland,” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday.
Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, said Israel has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights for almost sixty years, and that the UN General Assembly this month once again reaffirmed Syria’s sovereignty over the region.
Syria has introduced new banknotes, eliminating zeros and portraits in a move to strengthen national identity and restore confidence in the economy.
Four members of Syria’s General Directorate of Ports were injured on Friday when their vehicle came under fire east of Aleppo, local authorities reported.
Dozens of people are feared dead and around 100 others injured after an explosion tore through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, authorities said.
Russian athletes will not be allowed to represent their country at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics even if a peace deal is reached with Ukraine, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry said in an interview with an Italian newspaper.
At least 47 people were killed and 112 injured after a fire broke out at a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian media on Thursday.
India has approved a major arms deal with Israel valued at approximately $8.7 billion, highlighting the deepening defence partnership between the two countries.
A 6.5-magnitude earthquake has struck the southern state of Guerrero in Mexico.
U.S. authorities say they have thwarted an ISIS‑inspired terrorist attack planned for New Year’s Eve in the town of Mint Hill, North Carolina, arresting an 18‑year‑old suspect just hours before the alleged assault was due to take place.
The Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami unveiled that the country’s civilian nuclear program has been the target of industrial sabotage by the Israeli and the U.S. intelligent agencies for the last three decades.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to come to the aid of protesters in Iran if security forces fire on them, days into unrest that has left several dead and posed the biggest internal threat to Iranian authorities in years.
A U.S.-backed initiative is quietly transforming the South Caucasus, linking Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan through a high-security transit corridor. According to PBS News, the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIP) could shift regional trade and politics.
The Washington Accords, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, have reshaped the strategic balance in the South Caucasus and strengthened America’s position. According to The Washington Times, the shift reflects a broader realignment driven by security, transport corridors.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment