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Lebanese-Syrian Business Council Launches, Sidelines Trump’s Hezbollah Demand

7/16/2026

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Lebanese Council Launches

The Lebanese-Syrian Business Council launch marked the first private-sector delegation to visit Damascus since the Assad regime fell.
Lebanese Economy Minister Amer Bisat met President Ahmad Al Shara and Minister Nidal Al Shaar in Damascus to announce council.
Syrian Business Council director Thaer Laham said participants were ecstatic, citing construction and trade opportunities.
President Al Shara rejected President Donald Trump’s proposal Syria confront Hezbollah, stressing economy outweighs politics.

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Bisat Revises Trade

Lebanon and Syria will start revising over 40-year-old trade pacts within months following Bashar al-Assad’s 2024 ouster.
Lebanese Economy Minister Amer Bisat met Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara, who urged investment, saying economy outweighs politics.
Trade fell from just under $800 million to $250 million last year, significantly.
Bisat said a committee will review tariffs, transport bottlenecks, visas, taxes and 375-km border corridor.

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Lebanese Council Launches

The Lebanese-Syrian Business Council launch marked the first private-sector delegation to visit Damascus since the Assad regime fell.
Lebanese Economy Minister Amer Bisat met President Ahmad Al Shara and Minister Nidal Al Shaar in Damascus to announce council.
Syrian Business Council director Thaer Laham said participants were ecstatic, citing construction and trade opportunities.
President Al Shara rejected President Donald Trump’s proposal Syria confront Hezbollah, stressing economy outweighs politics.

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