ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - More than 300 companies from 13 countries are taking part in a three-day industrial exhibition in Damascus, including a Kurdish-owned manufacturer from northeast Syria (Rojava) seeking to expand production and investment.
Among the participating companies is a car-oil manufacturer owned by Yahya Qasim, from Rojava's province of Hasaka, who told Rudaw's Solin Mohammed he plans to open a factory in Qamishli.
“The opening of this factory in Qamishli has many benefits. First, it will create job opportunities for people seeking work and a livelihood, giving them a chance to work with us," said Qasim, whose company employs around 180 workers and engineers and produces about 300 tons of oil annually for the Syrian market, exporting around 50 tons to Erbil, Lebanon and Jordan.
The Mashhadani Industrial Trilogy 2026 opened on Saturday at the Damascus International Fairground, bringing together three specialized exhibitions covering plastic, chemical and raw-material industries.
The event includes the seventh Syria Plast exhibition for plastic industries, the sixth Chem Expo exhibition for chemical industries and the third Romex exhibition for raw materials and production requirements. The exhibitions cover more than 10,000 square meters and bring together suppliers, investors, experts and industry officials.
The exhibition is scheduled to run for three days. Organizers said several commercial agreements have already been signed during the event.
Nour al-Mashhadani, deputy director of the Mashhadani International Group, told Rudaw the participation of companies from Kurdish areas could help expand investment and trade across Syria.
“We are extending an invitation to them to participate in the specialized exhibitions,” Mashhadani said. “It will definitely open up the promising Syrian market for them and unlock investment opportunities, allowing them to connect with investors coming from abroad and get to know the participating Syrian companies.”
“A major and strong commercial exchange will certainly take place between them, especially since these areas were previously marginalized, so now they will hopefully have a very strong presence in the Syrian market,” he added.
Qasim said he hopes the networking opportunities with investors will lead to a decrease in transportation costs directly impacting many in his community.
“Additionally, the transportation costs we have incurred over the past six years - which previously increased the price of goods - will be eliminated,” said Qasim. “When the factory in Qamishli opens, product prices will decrease, which directly benefits the local citizens.”
