Emirati companies have signed investment agreements to establish a photovoltaic power plant in Syria, near the capital, Damascus.
The agreement provides for the construction of a photovoltaic station with a production capacity of 300 megawatts.
The Emirati companies will secure the full financing needed for the project in Syria through facilities to be paid in quarterly installments for a period of ten years, said the Syrian Arab News Agency.
The agency did not provide details about the cost of the project, nor the names of the participating Emirati companies.
The agreement divides the project into six sections, each with a capacity of 50 megawatts, during an implementation period of two years, the agency indicated.
The agreement comes two days after Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, during a visit that is the first of its kind since 2011.
The visit of the Emirati minister to Damascus and his meeting with al-Assad was met with sharp criticism from the United States of America, which imposes strict sanctions on the Syrian regime.
Bilateral relations
In a related context, during Bashar al-Assad’s meeting with Abdullah bin Zayed, they “discussed bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries, developing bilateral cooperation in various fields of common interest, and intensifying efforts to explore new horizons for this cooperation, especially in vital sectors in order to strengthen investment partnerships in these sectors.”
Al-Assad stressed the “close fraternal relations between Syria and the UAE since the days of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.”
He referred to the “objective and correct positions taken by the UAE,” stressing that “the UAE has always stood by the Syrian people.”
The statement added that the discussion also dealt with the situation on the Arab and regional arenas, and it was agreed to continue consultation and coordination on the various issues and challenges facing the Arab region, in order to achieve the aspirations of its peoples and their will away from any external interference.
For his part, bin Zayed stressed during the meeting, “the UAE’s keenness on the security, stability and unity of sisterly Syria, and its support for all efforts made to end the Syrian crisis, consolidate the foundations of stability in the country and meet the aspirations of the brotherly Syrian people for development, development and prosperity,” according to what was reported by the official Emirates News Agency.
In December 2018, the UAE Foreign Ministry announced the reopening of its embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and the return of its diplomatic mission to work there.
On various occasions, the UAE Foreign Minister reiterated his statements regarding the importance of Syria’s return to its Arab surroundings.