The first British-Syrian business delegation since the fall of Bashar Al Assad is on its way to Damascus, despite continuing sanctions and security risks keeping the gates into Syria half-closed.
The trip will be marked by the Damascus launch of the Syrian British Business Council on Sunday, after an inaugural event was held in London earlier this month.
There is optimism about opportunities for business and organisations seeking to get involved in the country's recovery, following the collapse of the Assad regime in December.
But investors are treading cautiously as US sanctions have yet to be officially lifted and security risks – including repeated Israeli incursions into Syria, remain.
British MPs who wanted to attend the trip were told that additional security was not required, a source told The National. The UK Foreign Office did not respond to requests for comment from The National.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shaibani met British Syrian business leaders in London during his first official visit to the UK this month. He was also attending the UK launch of the council.
Zaha Hadid Architects, which recently announced its plans to rebuild Damascus Airport with a new terminal and five-star h
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