Latest news with #Al-Ahmad
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Syria reactivates key industrial facilities as economic rebuilding efforts intensify
Shafaq News/ The Syrian Ministry of Economy and Industry is moving forward with plans to rehabilitate and restart critical industrial plants, Hasan Al-Ahmad, Director of the Media Office at the Ministry, told Shafaq News. Al-Ahmad revealed that several major facilities have recently resumed operations, including the Hama Iron Plant and the Damascus Cables Factory, along with other strategic assets. 'These facilities are currently undergoing technical evaluations to assess their readiness for flexible and efficient investment models,' he said, adding that the goal is to maximize operational efficiency and ensure these assets contribute effectively to economic recovery. Supporting the national production, Al-Ahmad stressed, remains a cornerstone of Syria's industrial strategy. 'We want Syrian-made products to compete confidently in both domestic and international markets.' Regarding the Ministry's primary focus for the coming phase, it is 'to elevate the standards of the national industry, positioning it as a benchmark for quality and export potential.' This, he said, would help stimulate economic growth, create job opportunities, and strengthen public trust in local manufacturing. Syria's economy has been in a state of collapse since the outbreak of mass protests and civil conflict in 2011. A recent joint report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and UNCTAD, published on January 25, 2025, and titled 'Syria at a Crossroads: Toward a Stable Transition Phase,' highlighted the challenges facing the Syrian economy and outlined scenarios for its potential recovery. According to the report, a recovery scenario assumes successful reconstruction efforts, governance reforms, and sufficient international aid, particularly in the fields of agriculture, industry, and energy. Under this model, Syria could regain up to 80% of its pre-war GDP by 2030, provided the country maintains an average annual growth rate of 13% over the 2024–2030 period. Even in this best-case scenario, per capita income would still reach only half of its 2010 level.
Asharq Al-Awsat
10-04-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Mouallimi at the Investment Forum: SRMG Committed to Advancing Saudi Sports Media
The Sports Investment Forum concluded its sessions on Wednesday, featuring high-level participation from global leaders in the field of sports investment. On the final day, senior officials explored the role of sports media as both a strategic national tool and an economic driver, with a focus on the challenges and opportunities shaping this rapidly growing sector. Bassil Al-Mouallimi, Chief Strategy Officer at the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), emphasized that media success is closely tied to the growth of the sports economy. He highlighted broadcasting rights as one of the most critical revenue streams in sports, with media playing a pivotal role in amplifying and promoting athletic events. Al-Mouallimi noted that the core value of media in sports lies in sustained coverage before and after matches and tournaments—something SRMG is dedicated to providing across all its platforms. He described sports as 'the most authentic form of local content,' due to their universal appeal and the strong emotional connection they foster with audiences. He stressed the importance of storytelling in sports journalism and content creation. Addressing the evolving landscape, Al-Mouallimi pointed to the challenges posed by AI in content production while urging industry professionals to seize the vast potential it offers. Speaking about SRMG's role, he said: 'We've dedicated several of our publications—including Asharq Al-Awsat, Manga, Arriyadiyah, Al-Eqtisadiah, and Thmanyah—to support sports media and contribute to the development of its economic ecosystem.' Saudi Viewers and the Future of Sports Broadcasting Fahad Al-Ahmad, Chief Operating Officer of SSC Channels, stated that Saudi Arabia's sports sector is currently undergoing a phase of remarkable growth, supported by forward-thinking regulations and a massive fan base. This, he said, positions the Kingdom as a global hub for major international sporting events. During a session titled 'Television Broadcasting and the Future of Sports Streaming', Al-Ahmad observed a rising demand for sport-specific content, reflecting the maturity of the Saudi viewer and their growing interest in technical and analytical depth. He described this trend as a promising opportunity to expand the reach and quality of sports broadcasting. Al-Ahmad called for greater investment in media talent: 'We need specialized training programs for each sport. With over 90 sports federations and a passionate generation of Saudi youth, we can build a professional media system capable of delivering world-class coverage.' Content Quality and Media Responsibility Turki Alajmah, presenter at Rotana Channels, stressed the importance of maintaining high standards in media production. He warned against treating television like social media, emphasizing the need for professionalism, credibility, and editorial integrity. 'Content quality remains the cornerstone of trust between media and the public,' Alajmah said. 'A media professional's role is not just to entertain, but to inform and shape public understanding.' He also pointed to challenges facing local media, including limited access to athletes and events due to a lack of broadcasting rights and the increasing appearance of sports figures on international platforms—factors that weaken local media's influence and reach. TikTok Launches Saudi Sports Program Mohamed Harb, Director of Partnerships at TikTok for the Middle East and North Africa, announced the launch of a dedicated Saudi sports program on the platform. He stated that the initiative would significantly boost engagement across a range of sports and increase visibility for athletes and clubs on a larger scale. Navigating the Digital Shift in Sports Media In a session titled 'Sports Media: Between Challenges and Aspirations', Adel Alzahrani, Deputy Minister of Sports for Media and Marketing, discussed the ongoing disruption brought by social media and digital platforms. He emphasized the importance of adapting to these changes to maintain relevance and visibility. Alzahrani underlined the need for deep audience research, noting that consumption patterns and communication habits have evolved. Understanding platform algorithms and engagement mechanisms, he said, is now essential to crafting effective media strategies.
Asharq Al-Awsat
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Syrians Left in the Dark as the Interim Government Struggles to Restore Electricity
Rana Al-Ahmad opens her fridge after breaking fast at sundown with her husband and four children during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Apart from eggs, potatoes and some bread, it's empty because state electricity in Syria only comes two hours a day. 'We can't leave our food in the fridge because it will spoil,' she said. Her husband, a taxi driver in Damascus, is struggling to make ends meet, so the family can't afford to install a solar panel in their two-room apartment in Jaramana on the outskirts of the capital. Months after a lightning insurgency ended over half a century of the Assad dynasty's rule in Syria, the interim government has been struggling to fix battered infrastructure after a 14-year conflict decimated much of the country. Severe electricity shortages continue to plague the war-torn country. The United Nations estimates that 90% of Syrians live in poverty and the Syrian government has only been able to provide about two hours of electricity every day. Millions of Syrians, like Al-Ahmad and her family, can't afford to pay hefty fees for private generator services or install solar panels. Syria's new authorities under interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa have tried to ease the country's electricity crisis, but have been unable to stop the outages with patchwork solutions. Even with a recent gas deal with Qatar and an agreement with Kurdish-led authorities that will give them access to Syria's oil fields, the country spends most of its days with virtually no power. Reports of oil shipments coming from Russia, a key military and political ally of Assad, shows the desperation. Pitch black At Al-Ahmad's home, she and her husband were only able to get a small battery that could power some lights. 'The battery we have is small and its charge runs out quickly,' said Al-Ahmad, 37. It's just enough that her children can huddle in the living room to finish their homework after school. And the family is not alone. Everywhere in Syria, from Damascus to Daraa in the south, neighborhoods turn pitch black once the sun sets, lit only from street lamps, mosque minarets and car headlights. The downfall of Assad in December brought rare hope to Syrians. But the new interim authorities have scrambled to establish control across the country and convince Western nations to lift economic sanctions to make its economy viable again. The United States in January eased some restrictions for six months, authorizing some energy-related transactions. But it doesn't appear to have made a significant difference on the ground just yet. Battered and bruised fields Washington and other Western governments face a delicate balance with Syria's new authorities, and appear to be keen on lifting restrictions only if the war-torn country's political transition is democratic and inclusive of Syrian civil society, women and minorities. Fixing Syria's damaged power plants and oil fields takes time, so Damascus is racing to get as much fuel as it can to produce more energy. Damascus is now looking towards the northeastern provinces, where its oil fields under Kurdish-led authorities are to boost its capacity, especially after reaching a landmark ceasefire deal with them. Political economist Karam Shaar said 85% of the country's oil production is based in those areas, and Syria once exported crude oil in exchange for refined oil to boost local production, though the fields are battered and bruised from years of conflict. These crucial oil fields fell into the hands of the extremist ISIS group, which held large swaths of Syria and Iraq from 2014 to 2017. 'It's during that period where much of the damage to the (oil) sector happened,' said Shaar, highlighting intense airstrikes and fighting against the group by a US-led international coalition. After ISIS fell, the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) took control of key fields, leaving them away from the central government in Damascus. The new authorities hope to resolve this in a landmark deal with the SDF signed earlier this month. Kamran Omar, who oversees oil production in the Rmeilan oil fields in the northeastern city of Hassakeh, says shortages in equipment and supplies and clashes that persisted with Türkiye and Turkish-backed forces have slowed down production, but told the AP that some of that production will eventually go to households and factories in other parts of Syria. The fields only produce a fraction of what they once did. The Rmeilan field sends just 15,000 of the approximately 100,000 barrels they produce to other parts of Syria to ease some of the burden on the state. The authorities in Damascus also hope that a recent deal with Qatar that would supply them with gas through Jordan to a major plant south of the capital will be the first of more agreements. The cornerstone of recovery Syria's authorities have not acknowledged reports of Russia sending oil shipments to the country. Moscow once aided Assad in the conflict against the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group that toppled the former president, but this shows that they are willing to stock up on fuel from whoever is offering. Interim Electricity Minister Omar Shaqrouq admitted in a news conference that bringing back electricity to Syrian homes 24 hours a day is not on the horizon. 'It will soon be four hours, but maybe some more in the coming days.' Increasing that supply will be critical for the battered country, which hopes to ease the economic woes of millions and bring about calm and stability. Shaar, who has visited and met with Syria's new authorities, says that the focus on trying to bring fuel in the absence of funding for major infrastructural overhauls is the best Damascus can do given how critical the situation is. 'Electricity is the cornerstone of economic recovery,' said Shaar. 'Without electricity you can't have a productive sector, (or any) meaningful industries.'
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Syrians left in the dark as the interim government struggles to restore electricity
JARAMANA, Syria (AP) — Rana Al-Ahmad opens her fridge after breaking fast at sundown with her husband and four children during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Apart from eggs, potatoes and some bread, it's empty because state electricity in Syria only comes two hours a day. 'We can't leave our food in the fridge because it will spoil,' she said. Her husband, a taxi driver in Damascus, is struggling to make ends meet, so the family can't afford to install a solar panel in their two-room apartment in Jaramana on the outskirts of the capital. Months after a lightning insurgency ended over half a century of the Assad dynasty's rule in Syria, the Islamist interim government has been struggling to fix battered infrastructure after a 14-year conflict decimated much of the country. Severe electricity shortages continue to plague the war-torn country. The United Nations estimates that 90% of Syrians live in poverty and the Syrian government has only been able to provide about two hours of electricity every day. Millions of Syrians, like Al-Ahmad and her family, can't afford to pay hefty fees for private generator services or install solar panels. Syria's new authorities under interim leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa have tried to ease the country's electricity crisis, but have been unable to stop the outages with patchwork solutions. Even with a recent gas deal with Qatar and an agreement with Kurdish-led authorities that will give them access to Syria's oil fields, the country spends most of its days with virtually no power. Reports of oil shipments coming from Russia, a key military and political ally of Assad, shows the desperation. Pitch black At Al-Ahmad's home, she and her husband were only able to get a small battery that could power some lights. 'The battery we have is small and its charge runs out quickly,' said Al-Ahmad, 37. It's just enough that her children can huddle in the living room to finish their homework after school. And the family is not alone. Everywhere in Syria, from Damascus to Daraa in the south, neighborhoods turn pitch black once the sun sets, lit only from street lamps, mosque minarets and car headlights. The downfall of Assad in December brought rare hope to Syrians. But the new interim authorities have scrambled to establish control across the country and convince Western nations to lift economic sanctions to make its economy viable again. The United States in January eased some restrictions for six months, authorizing some energy-related transactions. But it doesn't appear to have made a significant difference on the ground just yet. Battered and bruised fields Washington and other Western governments face a delicate balance with Syria's new authorities, and appear to be keen on lifting restrictions only if the war-torn country's political transition is democratic and inclusive of Syrian civil society, women and non-Sunni Muslim communities. Some minority groups have been concerned about the new authorities, especially incidents of revenge attacks targeting the Alawite community during a counter-offensive against an insurgency of Assad loyalists. Fixing Syria's damaged power plants and oil fields takes time, so Damascus is racing to get as much fuel as it can to produce more energy. Damascus is now looking towards the northeastern provinces, where its oil fields under Kurdish-led authorities are to boost its capacity, especially after reaching a landmark ceasefire deal with them. Political economist Karam Shaar said 85% of the country's oil production is based in those areas, and Syria once exported crude oil in exchange for refined oil to boost local production, though the fields are battered and bruised from years of conflict. These crucial oil fields fell into the hands of the extremist Islamic State group, which carved out a so-called caliphate across large swaths of Syria and Iraq from 2014 to 2017. 'It's during that period where much of the damage to the (oil) sector happened,' said Shaar, highlighting intense airstrikes and fighting against the group by a U.S.-led international coalition. After IS fell, the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces took control of key fields, leaving them away from the central government in Damascus. The new authorities hope to resolve this in a landmark deal with the SDF signed earlier this month. Kamran Omar, who oversees oil production in the Rmeilan oil fields in the northeastern city of Hassakeh, says shortages in equipment and supplies and clashes that persisted with Turkey and Turkish-backed forces have slowed down production, but told the AP that some of that production will eventually go to households and factories in other parts of Syria. The fields only produce a fraction of what they once did. The Rmeilan field sends just 15,000 of the approximately 100,000 barrels they produce to other parts of Syria to ease some of the burden on the state. The authorities in Damascus also hope that a recent deal with Qatar that would supply them with gas through Jordan to a major plant south of the capital will be the first of more agreements. The cornerstone of recovery Syria's authorities have not acknowledged reports of Russia sending oil shipments to the country. Moscow once aided Assad in the conflict against armed Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham that toppled the former president, but this shows that they are willing to stock up on fuel from whoever is offering. Interim Electricity Minister Omar Shaqrouq admitted in a news conference that bringing back electricity to Syrian homes 24 hours a day is not on the horizon. 'It will soon be four hours, but maybe some more in the coming days.' Increasing that supply will be critical for the battered country, which hopes to ease the economic woes of millions and bring about calm and stability. Shaar, who has visited and met with Syria's new authorities, says that the focus on trying to bring fuel in the absence of funding for major infrastructural overhauls is the best Damascus can do given how critical the situation is. 'Electricity is the cornerstone of economic recovery,' said Shaar. 'Without electricity you can't have a productive sector, (or any) meaningful industries.' ___ Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Associated Press journalist Hogir El Abdo reported from Hassakeh, Syria.
Arab News
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Syrians left in the dark as the interim government struggles to restore electricity
JARAMANA: Rana Al-Ahmad opens her fridge after breaking fast at sundown with her husband and four children during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Apart from eggs, potatoes and some bread, it's empty because state electricity in Syria only comes two hours a day. 'We can't leave our food in the fridge because it will spoil,' she said. Her husband, a taxi driver in Damascus, is struggling to make ends meet, so the family can't afford to install a solar panel in their two-room apartment in Jaramana on the outskirts of the capital. Months after a lightning insurgency ended over half a century of the Assad dynasty's rule in Syria, the Islamist interim government has been struggling to fix battered infrastructure after a 14-year conflict decimated much of the country. Severe electricity shortages continue to plague the war-torn country. The United Nations estimates that 90 percent of Syrians live in poverty and the Syrian government has only been able to provide about two hours of electricity every day. Millions of Syrians, like Al-Ahmad and her family, can't afford to pay hefty fees for private generator services or install solar panels. Syria's new authorities under interim leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa have tried to ease the country's electricity crisis, but have been unable to stop the outages with patchwork solutions. Even with a recent gas deal with Qatar and an agreement with Kurdish-led authorities that will give them access to Syria's oil fields, the country spends most of its days with virtually no power. Reports of oil shipments coming from Russia, a key military and political ally of Assad, shows the desperation. Pitch black At Al-Ahmad's home, she and her husband were only able to get a small battery that could power some lights. 'The battery we have is small and its charge runs out quickly,' said Al-Ahmad, 37. It's just enough that her children can huddle in the living room to finish their homework after school. And the family is not alone. Everywhere in Syria, from Damascus to Daraa in the south, neighborhoods turn pitch black once the sun sets, lit only from street lamps, mosque minarets and car headlights. The downfall of Assad in December brought rare hope to Syrians. But the new interim authorities have scrambled to establish control across the country and convince Western nations to lift economic sanctions to make its economy viable again. The United States in January eased some restrictions for six months, authorizing some energy-related transactions. But it doesn't appear to have made a significant difference on the ground just yet. Battered and bruised fields Washington and other Western governments face a delicate balance with Syria's new authorities, and appear to be keen on lifting restrictions only if the war-torn country's political transition is democratic and inclusive of Syrian civil society, women and non-Sunni Muslim communities. Some minority groups have been concerned about the new authorities, especially incidents of revenge attacks targeting the Alawite community during a counter-offensive against an insurgency of Assad loyalists. Fixing Syria's damaged power plants and oil fields takes time, so Damascus is racing to get as much fuel as it can to produce more energy. Damascus is now looking toward the northeastern provinces, where its oil fields under Kurdish-led authorities are to boost its capacity, especially after reaching a landmark ceasefire deal with them. Political economist Karam Shaar said 85 percent of the country's oil production is based in those areas, and Syria once exported crude oil in exchange for refined oil to boost local production, though the fields are battered and bruised from years of conflict. These crucial oil fields fell into the hands of the extremist Daesh group, which carved out a so-called caliphate across large swaths of Syria and Iraq from 2014 to 2017. 'It's during that period where much of the damage to the (oil) sector happened,' said Shaar, highlighting intense airstrikes and fighting against the group by a US-led international coalition. After IS fell, the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces took control of key fields, leaving them away from the central government in Damascus. The new authorities hope to resolve this in a landmark deal with the SDF signed earlier this month. Kamran Omar, who oversees oil production in the Rmeilan oil fields in the northeastern city of Hassakeh, says shortages in equipment and supplies and clashes that persisted with Turkiye and Turkish-backed forces have slowed down production, but told the AP that some of that production will eventually go to households and factories in other parts of Syria. The fields only produce a fraction of what they once did. The Rmeilan field sends just 15,000 of the approximately 100,000 barrels they produce to other parts of Syria to ease some of the burden on the state. The authorities in Damascus also hope that a recent deal with Qatar that would supply them with gas through Jordan to a major plant south of the capital will be the first of more agreements. The cornerstone of recovery Syria's authorities have not acknowledged reports of Russia sending oil shipments to the country. Moscow once aided Assad in the conflict against armed Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham that toppled the former president, but this shows that they are willing to stock up on fuel from whoever is offering. Interim Electricity Minister Omar Shaqrouq admitted in a news conference that bringing back electricity to Syrian homes 24 hours a day is not on the horizon. 'It will soon be four hours, but maybe some more in the coming days.' Increasing that supply will be critical for the battered country, which hopes to ease the economic woes of millions and bring about calm and stability. Shaar, who has visited and met with Syria's new authorities, says that the focus on trying to bring fuel in the absence of funding for major infrastructural overhauls is the best Damascus can do given how critical the situation is. 'Electricity is the cornerstone of economic recovery,' said Shaar. 'Without electricity you can't have a productive sector, (or any) meaningful industries.'
