President Ahmad al-Sharaa has expressed hope that Syria can reclaim its historic role as a trade corridor linking the East and West as the country is believed to have entered a new phase of reconstruction and economic development following the lifting of major US sanctions.
Sharaa spoke on Wednesday at the opening of the 63rd Damascus International Fair, describing the event as a symbol of Syria’s return to the international economic community after years of war, isolation and economic hardship.
“After the obstacles were removed and sanctions lifted, we have not yet reached the end. We are at the beginning of a long and sustainable road defined by dignity, revival, reconstruction and development,” Sharaa said.
He said Syria could once again become “a bridge between markets, a corridor for trade and a center where the interests of East and West converge.”
The Damascus International Fair, held under the theme “Syria Rises Again,” brought together about 1,000 companies and organisations from nearly 60 countries. The event is part of the government’s broader effort to attract foreign investment, rebuild infrastructure and restore trade links.
The development follows the Trump administration’s decision on August 24 to remove Syria from the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism and lift remaining major sanctions targeting the country.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision followed steps and commitments by the Syrian government under Sharaa to distance the country from international terrorism.
The removal of the designation is significant because Syria’s inclusion on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list had imposed severe restrictions on trade, international finance and access to global institutions.
The United States had designated Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979 under former President Hafez al-Assad. Earlier sanctions were also imposed on the Assad government, including under the Caesar Act, which was repealed in December 2025.
The latest measures also removed the designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organisation. Sharaa was previously associated with the group before becoming president following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.
For Syria, the lifting of sanctions could open greater access to international banking, investment, trade and reconstruction financing. It could also make it easier for humanitarian organisations and foreign companies to operate in the country.
However, the end of sanctions does not automatically translate into economic recovery. Syria faces enormous reconstruction needs, weak infrastructure, limited access to capital and the lingering effects of years of conflict and international isolation.
Our view
The lifting of sanctions gives Syria an important opportunity, but it is only the beginning of the country’s economic recovery.
The government’s biggest challenge will be turning renewed international access into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Syrians. Rebuilding roads, power networks, hospitals, businesses and financial institutions will require more than political declarations; it will require sustained investment, transparency and stability.
Syria’s ambition to become a bridge between East and West is realistic only if it can establish the security, institutions and economic confidence needed to attract long-term investors.
The reopening of the Damascus International Fair is therefore more than a trade event. It is an early test of whether Syria can translate its return to the global economy into a genuine reconstruction programme and a new chapter in its history.
