The SYNC25 II conference opened on Friday, August 8, in Damascus under the theme “Let’s Lead Technology”, led by Syrian-American entrepreneurs and engineers from Silicon Valley, California’s hub of innovation and technology.
The event, attended by Enab Baladi, aims to foster knowledge exchange, enhance professional skills, create job opportunities, and promote collaboration between Syrian talent and top experts in the global tech sector. It also seeks to build bridges between Syria and Silicon Valley, connecting Syrian professionals to the latest technological advancements that have largely been inaccessible in recent years.
The lead organizer of the SYNC conference, Muyesser Taqi-Eddin, told Enab Baladi that the event aims to strengthen connections among Syrians and employ as many individuals as possible, stating, “The plan is to employ around 25,000 people over the next five years.”
She noted the participation of investors from major international companies, 80 speakers representing 28 countries, and over 200 Syrian expatriates, alongside university students and graduates in engineering and software. Planned training programs will target job seekers, equipping them with competitive skills for positions in global companies.
Dr. Musab al-Ali, Minister of Health in the Interim Government, emphasized the need to keep pace with technological advances across all government sectors, particularly health. He highlighted digital transformation as a ministry priority, announcing an upcoming “Queue System” that will allow patients to book hospital appointments in advance, reducing effort and wait times.
Despite logistical challenges, al-Ali said solutions were found through staff training, and the ministry plans to integrate technology into many aspects of the health sector.
International Expertise and Networking
International tech experts delivered specialized workshops for Syrian professionals, engineers, and students. Industry leaders from California, as well as Syrian professionals in Canada, Germany, France, and the UAE, took part.
Abdullah al-Shammaa, a government sector consultant and investor in pioneering startups, told Enab Baladi about his participation in the conference as a speaker in one of the panel discussions, alongside several specialists in marketing, investment, and law.
He noted that the aim of this session was to assist companies and entrepreneurs interested in investing in Syria—especially foreign investors—by guiding them on preparing their businesses, establishing a proper legal framework, and building the full infrastructure needed to make them qualified and attractive for investment.
Al-Shammaa considered this type of conference “very important” both for participants abroad and those inside Syria, as it allows them to meet entrepreneurs, talented individuals, and skilled professionals seeking job opportunities.
In his view, Syria is currently in a phase of opening up to the outside world, which is a positive development but also poses challenges for local companies that must compete with foreign firms and adapt to upcoming changes in the local market.
Bahila Hijazi, an entrepreneur and co-founder of the home rental company “Beti Betak”, encouraged expatriates to return to Syria and invest, affirming that there are many opportunities available now—an incentive that personally motivated her to come back after living in Germany.
Hijazi is participating in a panel discussion at the conference about the challenges facing Syria’s technology sector and infrastructure, as well as finding solutions for them.
She told Enab Baladi that the importance of the SYNC conference lies in exchanging expertise, creating job opportunities, and networking with specialists in the technology sector.
Job Creation
Bashar Khdair, CEO of Deed in the UAE, told Enab Baladi that the aim of participating in the conference was to attract Syrian talent in the technology sector.
He explained that the company seeks to connect with young men and women interested in working in this field, with the goal of building mutually beneficial partnerships that both support these talents and benefit from their expertise.
Khdair emphasized the importance of the conference as a platform that links local Syrian expertise with their counterparts abroad—something Syria has lacked for many years. He noted that their participation stems from a firm belief in the event’s role in bridging the communication gap between companies seeking Syrian talent and skilled professionals who previously lacked a clear channel to connect with such employers.
The conference, which concluded today, Saturday, August 9, was attended by several government members, including Minister of Communications and Technology Abdul Salam Haykal, Minister of Finance Mohammed Yosr Bernieh, Minister of Education Mohammed Abdul Rahman Turko, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Marwan al-Halabi, Minister of Culture Mohammad Yassin al-Saleh, and Minister of Health Musab al-Ali.
It also gathered top experts, academics, and specialists in technology and communications, along with Syrian, Arab, and foreign businesspeople, representatives of startups and entrepreneurs, as well as youth and media professionals.