Spotlight: Iran aims for major role in rebuilding Syria

Visitors are seen in the Iranian pavilion at the Rebuild Syria Fair in Damascus, capital of Syria, on Sept.18, 2019. Iran, Syria's key ally, is the most noticeable participant in the ongoing Rebuild Syria Fair with over 80 Iranian companies and factories taking part in the fair, most of which agree that the Syrian market is a promising one for investments. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- As Syria's key ally, Iran is looking forward to playing a major role in rebuilding Syria after providing crucial military aid for the Syrian government.

Iranian officials have said on many occasions that their country wants to be a part of the reconstruction process in Syria, where large swathes of terrain are in ruins, mainly around key cities, due to the eight-year civil war.

For their part, Syrian government officials stressed that friendly countries which helped Syria in the fighting will have the lion share in the rebuilding process of the country.

Iran's presence has been noticeable in all trade fairs held by the Syrian government in the capital Damascus and it is perhaps the most noticeable participant in the ongoing Rebuild Syria Fair.

Over 80 Iranian companies and factories are taking part in the fair, most of which agree that the Syrian market is a promising one for investments.

Pegman Alidousti, director of Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industry Commercial Co., told Xinhua that Iran aims to sell raw materials to Syria.

"We have participated in this event because we consider Syria an opportunity for Iranian companies to offer their products like raw materials in this country which is on the way of rebuilding itself and they surely need different types of raw materials and that's why we are here," said Alidousti.

For his side, Ali Muhaqiqi, a representative of the Iranian Pars Garma construction company, said that it would be a golden opportunity for Iranian companies to help Syria rebuild.

"We can say that it's a golden opportunity to take part in this event to help in rebuilding Syria. The Syrian market is so promising now as the country is in the rebuilding phase, and it would be a great opportunity for us," Muhaqiqi told Xinhua.

Iran wants to extend the counter-terrorism aid in Syria to develop economic cooperation in the reconstruction phase, Iranian Ambassador to Syria Jawad Turk Abadi told Xinhua while touring the Iranian pavilion in the Rebuild Syria fair.

"The Iranian participation emanates from the friendly relations between both countries. We have made an alliance in fighting terrorism and now we see the future is for rebuilding Syria and to develop the mutual work in the economic context," the ambassador said.

Muhannad Saif al-Deen, assistant to the Syrian Minister of Public Works, said Syria is looking forward to benefiting from the experiences of Iran and Russia and other friendly countries in the rebuilding process.

"We hope we could benefit from all these experiences in the rebuilding of Syria in cooperation with the people who love Syria," he told Xinhua.