French energy, shipping giants explore Syria deals during Macron visit
The two countries signed preliminary pacts spanning transport, healthcare, banking, infrastructure and development on Tuesday, even as twin explosions in the capital underscored the fragile investment environment.
France and Syria signed a range of economic cooperation agreements on Tuesday as President Emmanuel Macron visited Damascus with key French business leaders in tow, delivering pacts spanning transport, healthcare, banking, infrastructure and development.
The announcements come as Syria’s new government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, works to convert international interest in the country into concrete investment after years of war and isolation.
What happened: Sharaa received Macron in Damascus after the French leader touched down in the capital on Monday evening ahead of a trip to Turkey for the 2026 NATO Summit. Macron’s visit marked the first by a French president since 2009. He was accompanied by a delegation including TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne and CMA CGM Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saade.
The presidents attended a Syrian-French business roundtable before overseeing the signing of a series of memorandums of understanding covering investment, logistics, healthcare, banking, civil aviation, water infrastructure and institutional development, according to Syria’s state news agency, SANA.
