Meeting of Syrian-Iraqi business council to start

The two-day 3rd meeting of the Syrian-Iraqi Business Council kicks off at Aleppo Sheraton Hotel on Saturday to discuss a number of topics related to investment, holding joint exhibitions, transport and tourism. Head of the Syrian side at the Council Ahmad al-Shihabi underlined the importance of the council's meeting in promoting trade relations between Syria and Iraq and developing them to achieve common interest of industrialists and traders in both countries and increase the volume of bilateral trade exchange. " The meeting poses an opportunity to inform the Iraqis on the reality of the Syrian industry, especially in Aleppo, which constitutes the industrial capital of Syria, and to enable them to closely communicate with Syrian businessmen and industrialists." al-Shihabi said. More than 100 businessmen and industrialists from Syria and Iraq participate in the meeting. Several meetings bringing together businessmen and industrialists from the two countries in Aleppo chambers of industry and trade besides several bilateral sessions will be held on the sidelines of the meeting. A number of agreements and understanding memorandums to be inked at the final session. The volume of trade exchange between Syria and Iraq hit $ 2 billion in 2010, expected to go up to $ 3 billion by the end of 2011. The Syrian-Iraqi Business Council was launched in Damascus on November 6, 2010.