The Ministry of Economy and Industry confirmed that it is working on developing and simplifying company establishment procedures in Syria by transitioning to electronic services and reducing traditional reviews, thereby enabling investors and businessmen to complete their transactions with less time and effort, and supporting the improvement of the business environment and facilitating the launch of economic projects.
Mohad Al-Aliq, Director of the Companies Directorate in the General Administration of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection, clarified that the Directorate is witnessing a surge in the registration of local and foreign companies, amid the facilitations and procedures provided to ease the registration process and encourage economic activity. He pointed out the possibility for Arab and foreign investors to register branches of their foreign companies within Syria, or to register non-exclusive agencies to conduct business activities carried out by companies abroad.
Al-Aliq explained that the Directorate receives between 30 and 50 company requests daily, including reviews to complete documents and procedures, and others requiring the resolution of deficiencies in documents or the presence of one of the partners. He noted that transitioning to electronic submission represents a step towards developing the work mechanism and facilitating the completion of transactions.
For her part, Imama Muhammad, Head of Companies Affairs Monitoring in the Directorate, clarified that the services provided include the establishment of capital companies in all their legal forms, including limited liability companies, single-person limited liability companies, private and public joint-stock companies, and holding companies.
Muhammad mentioned that the Directorate's tasks continue after the company is registered and announced in the Commercial Register, including monitoring any modifications that occur, such as changing the name, modifying objectives, or registering related assignments.
For his part, Hussam Al-Yousef, Head of the Companies Department in the Directorate, explained that the transition to electronic submission aims to simplify services and accelerate the completion of transactions. He noted that the implementation of the new mechanism is accompanied by pressure on the Directorate and some difficulties related to the novelty of the experience and some reviewers' lack of familiarity with using the platform.
He pointed out that the arrival of incomplete or inaccurate information in some requests may lead to a delay in their completion for a limited period, emphasizing that the stability of electronic work will reduce the need for in-person visits to the Directorate and alleviate burdens on employees and reviewers.
Al-Yousef noted that reviewers will no longer need to attend in person after the procedures stabilize, except in specific stages, including opening the account and identity verification via fingerprint or signing requests, according to approved procedures.
Auditor Tawal Labbad in the Companies Department explained that electronic establishment procedures begin with a review by the Companies Department by the principal or the agent to establish an account for the applicant and partners. She pointed out that after account establishment, the required data and information can be submitted via the electronic platform from the office, home, or any other place, without the need to submit the request in the traditional manner.
Labbad clarified that the request moves to electronic review and auditing stages after submission, where its status appears on the platform, whether it requires completing information and documents or becomes compliant with the necessary requirements to move to the next stage of establishment procedures.
Company establishment, registration, and notarization of modifications affecting their legal status are considered regulatory pillars of the business environment, as they allow for the determination of the legal status of companies, their activities, and the rights and obligations of partners.
The Minister of Economy and Industry, Nidal Al-Shaar, opened the Companies Directorate in the building of the General Administration of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection in Damascus on July 31, 2025, after rehabilitating it and developing the services it provides, as part of efforts aimed at improving the business environment and enhancing the investment climate in Syria.
The General Administration of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection in the Ministry of Economy and Industry launched the company establishment service via the electronic portal on July 7, 2026, as part of the digital transformation program and government work automation.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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