DAMASCUS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Syria's largest construction trade fair, Buildex, opened its 22nd edition on Tuesday in Damascus, drawing renewed interest from regional countries.
Organizers said more than 740 local and foreign companies are participating in the five-day expo at the Damascus International Fairgrounds under the sponsorship of the Syrian interim government's departments of Economy, Industry, and Public Works and Housing.
Muhammad Seyoufi, a coordinator at the expo, told Xinhua that 350 foreign companies participated in the exhibition, including approximately 50 Saudi and 120 Turkish firms.
This year's edition is seen as part of Syria's gradual return to regional economic integration, with prominent participation from Turkish and Saudi companies for the first time in over a decade.
Gökhan Killioglu, chief export sales officer at Türkiye-based firm STD Transformer, described the Syrian market as "promising and booming," citing the country's urgent needs for reconstruction and energy infrastructure.
"Syria is entering a rebuilding phase after war, and electricity is essential for that," he said.
Salem Al Shammari, business development engineer at Saudi Arabia's Al-Ojaimi Industrial Group, said that Saudi businesses are interested in reinvesting in Syria.
"It's our first time at Buildex, and we believe Syria has the potential to become one of the strongest markets in the region," Al Shammari told Xinhua.
"This is our first participation in Buildex Syria," Tarek Ismail, a representative of Sharkia Holding Group, an Egyptian construction and engineering firm, told Xinhua on Wednesday.
"Given the improving situation in Syria, our client decided to re-enter the Syrian market. We hope our participation supports the Syrian economy."
Construction and energy sectors are viewed as key drivers in Syria's post-war recovery, with new residential, commercial, and public infrastructure projects expected to emerge as Western sanctions ease and regional ties deepen. ■
