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Under the Patronage of
H.E. Bashar al-Assad
President of the Syrian Arab Republic
Syrian Expatriates Conference 2004
“With Expatriates for Development”
9 - 10 October 2004, Ummayyad Conference Palace
Damascus-Syria
Organized by the
Ministry of Expatriates
In cooperation with
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Syria
To Begin …
“In this reform process, you have a supportive role through your expertise and capabilities, visions and ideas that you have accumulated through your exposure to the work, experiences and cultures of other peoples (…) Expatriates have a point of strength not available to others. They have absorbed and are integrated into two cultures and experiences. They know the strengths of each one and can make comparisons. Comparison is very important. It enables expatriates to say to both countries which experience is better, and where the errors lie. Herein lies the importance of this conference and this contact with expatriates.”
HE Bashar al-Assad, President of the Syrian Arab Republic
The Presidential Opening Speech
“We see in Syrian Expatriates spread around the world the precious pearls of a rare necklace scattered here and there, losing in their separation the bond that endowed them as a whole with beauty and value. With this vision, our Conference aims at recreating the meeting points that bring together thoughts and action formulas proposed by expatriate researchers and Syrian governmental policies. It, furthermore, aspires to innovate mechanisms for collaborative work in order to reach mutual national objectives with unity of hearts and minds. This dialogue includes creating mutual action formulas to reflect the real image of the original Syrian values of peace, freedom and pluralism.”
Highlights
Under the patronage of H.E. President Bashar Al-Assad the Ministry of Expatriates (MOEX) organized the Syrian Expatriates Conference 2004in in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme in Syria (UNDP), underpinned in their mutual project With Syrian Expatriates for Development.
This bilateral project endorses MOEX’s strategic vision in improving the quality and efficiency of its services to Syrian Expatriates around the world and revitalizing their relationships with their country of origin. Hence, the project will contribute to improve the performance of MOEX’s staff to serve expatriate interests, Mobilize expatriate resources to support reforms in Syria, promote culture exchange.
Through candid and open exchange, the conference therefore aimed at activating dialogue with Syrian expatriates to serve their interests, support their role as a bridge between Arab culture and the cultures in which they live, and mobilize their efforts to support modernization and development in Syria.
The conference witnessed an overwhelming response, bringing together over 300 Syrian experts with papers received from 36 countries around the world. Participants at the conference included professionals and experts from the international Syrian Expatriate community, official representatives of Syrian Expatriate associations, and counterpart professionals and experts from different Syrian sectors.
In terms of geographical distribution, Syrian Expatriates from the USA contributed 43 participations, Germany 37, France 16, Italy 10, Bulgaria 9, Canada 9, UK 8, Spain 7, Sweden 7, Argentina 6, Romania 6, Brazil 5, Denmark 5, Ukraine 5, Austria 4, Belgium 4, Turkey 4, Greece 3, Ireland 3, UAE 3, Australia 2, Hungary 2, Switzerland 2, Yemen 2, Algeria 1, Bahrain 1, Cyprus 1, India 1, Japan 1, Kuwait 1, Moldavia 1, Morocco 1, Tunisia 1, Uruguay 1, and Venezuela 1 participation. (See pie chart 1)
Contributions of papers and/or abstracts to the conference also varied according to the seven general topics that were the subject of separate workshops. The topics of the workshops were: Expatriate Affairs, Human Resources Development, Culture Exchange and Media, Infrastructure and Technical Cooperation, Institutional Development and Modernization, Medical Cooperation and Developing Healthcare, Encouraging Investment and Economic Exchange
Table 1: contributions by subject and language
Topic Total Papers Abstracts Arabic English French Spanish
(1) Expatriate Affairs 37 15 22 25 11 1
(2) Human Resources Development 12 11 1 4 8
(3) Culture Exchange and Media 33 24 9 12 20 1
(4) Infrastructure and Technical Cooperation 14 8 6 9 5
(5) Institutional Development and Modernization 11 5 6 7 4
(6) Medical Cooperation and Developing Healthcare 25 17 8 9 16
(7) Encouraging Investment and Economic Exchange 27 12 15 12 15
(8) Expatriate Societies: Success Stories 14 8 6 6 7 1
173 100 73 84 86 2 1
At the close of the third session of workshops, the participants had the opportunity to discuss issues of collective, as well as personal, concern with some 40 experts, government officials and decision makers. The conference also included social events where participants could meet and network.
The workshops ended with 39 recommendations that proposed a number of projects, initiatives and decisions. The conference concluded with the official signing ceremony between the Ministry of Expatriates and the United Nations Development Programme in Syria, and the establishment of the Syrian Expatriate Advisory Council as a body that will support MOEX efforts to implement recommendations and prepare for the next conference.
Pie Chart 1: participation by country
Final Recommendations
Workshop 1: Expatriate Affairs*
This umbrella workshop took a broad view of the themes of the conference, tackling a wide range of issues such as: military service, simplifying expatriate visit procedures, education of expatriate children in and about Syria, teaching Arabic to expatriate second and third generations in addition to expatriate associations.
It concluded with the following recommendations:
1. Military service
• prepare a draft law detailing amendments on:
o Financial substitute for military service;
o Enabling expatriates of conscription age to visit Syria;
o Granting exemptions to expatriates who have performed military service abroad.
2. Passports
• Simplifying procedures for issuing passports to expatriates;
• Authorizing Syrian embassies to issue new passports and provide them with the necessary equipment;
• Simplifying procedures for registering marriages between Syrians and foreigners in official registers.
3. Arabic language
• Conducting Arabic language courses in Syria and abroad, and provide qualified staff and necessary instructional materials;
• Holding cultural seminars as well as artistic and historical exhibitions on Syria to acquaint expatriates with their language, culture and heritage;
• Organizing tours to Syria for expatriates in coordination with the relevant ministries and Syrian embassies;
• Giving scholarships to children of expatriates to learn Arabic in Syria;
• Establishing Syrian schools abroad and support them.
4. Studying at Syrian universities
• Increasing the number of seats and scholarships available to expatriates’ children in Syrian universities;
• Simplifying the procedures for providing the Syrian equivalent of academic degrees awarded abroad.
5. Other general recommendations
• Creating housing cooperatives, enabling expatriates to own property in Syria;
• Encouraging the establishment of expatriate institutions capable of supporting Arab causes abroad;
• Establishing Syrian hospitals abroad for treatment of expatriates;
• Creating the position of expatriate attaché at all Syrian diplomatic missions to ensure sustainable links between expatriates and their home country;
• Establishing an Arab television station targeted at expatriates.
* Moderator of the workshop was Dr. Shahnaz Alousi, Chief of the Urological Department at the Academic Hospital in Neunkirchen, Germany. The participating minister was H.E. Dr. Bouthaina Shabaan, Minister of Expatriates; who also presented the local point of view. Expatriate speakers included Dr. Radwan El Debsi, Administrative Director of Khaleej Times, UAE, and Dr. Salem Al Hamid, President of Children’s Department, Fadbrol University Hospital, Germany. The consultant who prepared for the workshop was Dr. Abboud Sarraj, Dean of the Faculty of Law, 2003 Damascus University.
Final Recommendations
Workshop 2: Human Resources Development*
Based on a recognition of the centrality of human resources development to the development of Syria as a whole, the workshop discussed ways in which the experience of expatriates in this field, accumulated in different cultures, can be used to improve working practices in Syria.
It concluded with the following recommendations:
6. Human resources development strategy
• design a comprehensive human resources development strategy that:
o provides for short, medium and long term development;
o involves cooperation between the public and private sectors;
o enables educational institutions to meet the needs of the labour market;
o draws on the experience of the large expatriate community.
7. Work ethics
• create a national centre for work ethics.
8. Knowledge, development and scientific research
• create a national council for scientific research for the promotion of research in national institutions and universities (public and private);
• establish an independent institute for advanced research;
• train university students in the field of scientific research;
• enable academics to devote more time to scientific research and reduce their teaching load;
• initiate an academic promotion system that places emphasis on intellectual and academic achievement.
9. Cooperation between Syrian universities and world universities, aiming at:
• creating a pool of university graduates with a sufficient knowledge base and expertise to work both abroad and in Syria;
• publishing a periodical in Arabic, covering home and expatriate news, to which expatriates contribute.
10. Restructuring secondary and university education
• employ expatriate expertise in teacher-training colleges during the summer;
• make comprehensive changes to the educational system and place greater emphasis on the use of technology;
• set up a committee to advise on the submission of applications for funding and foreign grants;
• make cooperation agreements between foreign and Syrian universities.
11. “Cooperative learning”
• connect learning to the needs of society and the labour market through “cooperative learning.” This method ensures that curricula used in educational institutions are compatible with the needs of industry.
12. Medical human resources
• put forward a national programme for the adoption of evidence-based medical training;
• provide the necessary facilities for the promotion and introduction of evidence-based medicine;
• develop the education of all health sector workers;
• develop patient contributions to medical planning;
• introduce health insurance;
13. Other general recommendations
• draft a memorandum to the Syrian Expatriate Advisory Council explaining the constraints created by the personal status law for expatriate women and proposing solutions.
• increase the role of vocational education;
• amend the admissions system for secondary and vocational education;
• facilitate obtaining study loans;
• pay greater attention to the teaching of foreign languages.
14. Future workshop
• hold a future workshop under the title, “Sustainability of Human Resources Development” in order to address the following questions:
o how can we choose knowledge projects applicable within available capabilities?
o is funding the only guarantee for sustainability?
o how do knowledge projects become sustainable after the launch stage?
o is top or base commitment sufficient for the sustainability of these projects?
o what are the commitments necessary for the sustainability of these projects?
* Moderator of the workshop was Dr. Taher Kanan, General Director of the Centre for Research and Dialogue of National Policies in Jordan. Three ministers participated: HE Prof. Dr. Ali Daher Saad, Minister of Education, HE Dr. Hani Mourtada, Minister of Higher Education, and HE Dr. Dyala Al-Haj Aref, Minister of State for Labour and Social Affairs. Mr. Nawaf Zeiden, Training and Development Manager at the Syrian European Business Centre (SEBC), and Ms. Rafif Raslan, Human Resources Director at Katakit Confectionery Development Industrial Co, were, respectively, the local and expatriate speakers. The workshop consultant was Dr. Haytham Yafi, advisor to the chairman of the Al Yafi group.
Final Recommendations
Workshop 3 : Culture Exchange and Media *
Three main areas came under discussion in this workshop: cultural exchange between Syria and expatriate communities; the development of media in Syria; and developing relations with expatriates and their communities.
It concluded with the following recommendations:
15. Media institutions
• set up a fund financed by expatriates in order to create a professional and independent media institution that publicizes Syrian issues and promotes the image of Arabs abroad. The institution will be supervised by a board consisting of expatriates with relevant expertise, and will aim at:
o mobilizing the media potential of expatriate Arabs to participate in the institution’s activities;
o setting up a network connecting the institution with prominent media institutions in the West and building relations with them;
o enhancing the independence professional media institutions;
o setting up Syrian media centres abroad;
o networking among Arabs working in the media in order to contribute to Arab media work through the adoption of effective and aggressive media policies;
o creating a website that encourages communication with and among expatriates;
o lobbying in the West to win the support of opinion leaders, such as politicians or journalists;
o encouraging western journalists to visit Syria, and providing them with the necessary facilities;
16. Tourist commission
• form a commission to promote culture and tourism in Syria by:
o drawing up a national plan for the development of tourism and minimizing bureaucracy;
o developing the relevant infrastructure;
o establishing tourist centres abroad to coordinate cooperation with important museums;
o holding art exhibitions in western capitals;
o developing aggressive tourist marketing methods;
o training local tourist personnel to provide international standard tourist services;
o developing better relationships between expatriates and their home country through the organization of budget trips to Syria;
o building relations with and supporting the civil programmes of eastern churches and expatriate Islamic centres;
o stressing the importance of building ties between young people in Syria and abroad through the Syrian Youth Network;
o translating literary and intellectual works into foreign languages and reviewing the existing censorship laws;
17. promote transparency, professionalism and objectivity in dealing with information;
18. establish government press offices to represent Syria and its policies in a convincing manner, and present regular press releases;
19. promote the Syrian film industry;
20. hold an international cultural Olympics (the symphony of civilizations).
* The workshop was moderated by Mr. Wafik Said, Chairman of Said Holdings. Two ministers, HE Dr. Mahdi Dakhlalla, Minister of Information, and HE Dr. Sa’adallah Agha Al Kala’a, Minister of Tourism, contributed to the debate. The speakers included Mr. Hani Mandas, President of Dar al Hamra Studies Centre in Beirut, Mrs. Hind Kabawat, President and Managing Partner of KdB & Associates in Toronto, and Mr. Falah Ojeil Abdulkarim, an international business consultant. The workshop consultant was Dr. Nabil Dajani, Professor of Communication at the American University of Beirut.
Final Recommendations
Workshop 4: Infrastructure and Technical Cooperation*
This workshop discussed wide range of technological and industrial issues including; developing the means of transport, renewable energy, agricultural development and disaster management.
It concluded with the following recommendations:
21. University cooperation
encourage the programme of scientific cooperation between European Universities and Syrian universities through projects such as a proposed collaboration between the University of Dublin and the Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at Damascus University;
22. Environmental pollution
participate in a collaborative project in the field of environmental pollution and pollution reduction;
23. Disaster management
establish and train civil authorities for dealing with disasters;
24. Electrometers
establish a factory for electrometers in Syria.
* The workshop was moderated by Dr. Basil Sannoufeh, Head of the Syrian Customs, and attended by HE Eng. Makram Obeid , Minister of Transport, and HE Mr. Abdallah Dardari, Head of the State Planning Commission. Dr. Amre Armanazi, General Director of Scientific Studies and Research Centre in Damascus presented the local perspective, while Mr. Amer Moujtahed, Director of Information Technology at Syriatel, and Dr. Joseph Chahoud, Professor of Physics at Bologna University in Italy, represented the expatriates. Mr. Nachaat Numir, General Director of Syrian Arab Airlines, also participated. The consultant who prepared for the workshop was Dr. Basel Khishi, Vice Dean for Scientific Affairs, Faculty of Information Technology, Damascus University.
Final Recommendations
Workshop 5: Institutional Development and Modernization*
The workshop discussed the modernization of public institutions and the best ways of harnessing the expertise of expatriates in the sectors of administrative reform, financial, monetary and banking reform and economic reform.
It concluded with the following recommendations:
25. draw up a comprehensive reform plan based on an objective diagnosis of factual needs for development and reform and their ultimate objectives;
26. establish an independent administrative authority to manage reform and monitor implementation;
27. set up specialized training centres to provide quality management training;
28. implement a mechanism for expatriate participation in the Decision Support Centre at the Prime Minister’s office;
29. emphasize the importance of freedom of the press and encourage civil society institutions to perform their role in the reform process.
* Dr. Daoud Khairallah, of John Hopkins University, moderated the workshop. Participating ministers were: HE Dr. Maher Mujtahed, Secretary General of Prime Ministry, and HE Eng. Hilal Al-Atrash, Minister of Local Administration and Environment. Speakers included Dr. Nabil Sukkar, Managing Director of the Syrian Consulting Bureau, and Mr. Nabil Kuzbari, President and CEO of Vimpex Handelsges m.b.H, Austria, and Dr. Osama Kadi, Professor of Economics, University of Michigan, USA. Mrs. Lamia Assi, Deputy Finance Minister, acted as consultant.
Final Recommendations
Workshop 6: Medical Cooperation and Developing Healthcare*
The aim of this workshop was to boost medical cooperation between expatriates and their home country. It discussed topics such as the health care and health education, the development of disabled care and the medical brain drain.
It concluded with the following recommendations:
30. use expatriate academic expertise to improve medical education and training in evidence-based medicine through regular visits and specialized conferences;
31. draw up a national patient’s bill of rights to protect patients and doctors and to implement a health insurance system;
32. set up a national board for medical specialties and training in coordination with the relevant ministries, unions and boards;
33. set up a local committee to oversee the execution of these recommendations in cooperation with the relevant authorities and within a specific time frame.
* The workshop was moderated by Dr. Fawaz Akhras, Clinical Director of Cardiac and Medical Health Services and Consultant Cardiologist at Cromwell Hospital in London, and attended by HE Dr. Maher Housami, Minister of Health, and HE Dr. Hani Mourtada, Minister of Higher Education. Speakers included Dr. Moufeed Jokhadar, Secretary General of the Arab Board of Medical Specializations, Dr. Salah Al-Huwais, University of Illinois, and Dr. Rami Akhrass, Medical Director, Cardiothoracic Surgery of Lake Hospital System in Ohio. Dr. Abdul Rahman Attar, Chairman of Attar Group, was the local expert. The consultant who prepared for the workshop was Dr. Mesbah Diab, Director of Education Development Centre for Medical Sciences, Damascus.
Final Recommendations
Workshop 7: Encouraging Investment and Economic Exchange
The workshop discussed issues such as developing the investment environment in Syria, adopting scientific ways to promote investment in Syria, promoting Syrian export and the role of expatriate in this concern, the promotion of investment in scientific research and in the tourist industry, attracting expatriate investors.
The following recommendations were made:
34. develop the different aspects of the investment environment in Syria – legislative, organizational, institutional, infrastructure, services – in order to make it attractive for investment, and pay greater attention to expatriate investment;
35. provide support to holding investment companies through the Ministry of Expatriates;
36. create an expatriate investment support unit at the Ministry of Expatriates with the following tasks:
• creating an economic database on expatriates, providing information on their spread, qualifications and activities, and making it available to the public;
• promoting investment projects for local private and joint sectors among expatriates;
• assisting in solving the problems faced by Syrian investors with other government departments;
• making expatriate associations on-site points of reference.
37. establish and activate an export support centre in Syria with offices in the major markets of Syrian exports;
38. hasten the establishment of the stock exchange in order to create a framework which encourages the creation of stock companies, and provide the other requirements of a stock exchange.
* The workshop was moderated by Dr. Ussama Anssari, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NOSSTIA. HE Dr. Ghassan Tayara, Minister of Industry, HE Dr. Mohammed Al-Houssein, Minister of Finance, and HE Dr. Amer Housni Lutfi, Minister of Economy and Trade attended. Speakers included HE Mr. Abdallah Dardari, Head of the State Planning Commission, and Dr. Azzam Al-Rashi, President of the Syrian Expatriates Association in Russia. The consultant was Mr. Samir Seifan, Managing Director of the Arab Development Centre (ADC) in Syria.
Follow Up and Mechanisms
The conference concluded with three main mechanisms of follow-up. They are:
Syrian Expatriate Advisory Council
The Council was formed upon conclusion of the Syrian Expatriate Conference as a non-political body which upholds Syrian expatriates’ interests as citizens of Syria and the world. The Council will extend expert advice and outsource technical and financial support to further expatriate interests and support Syrian reforms targeted at achieving national institutional readjustment and capacity building.
The Council will ensure that the recommendations of the Syrian Expatriate Conference 2004, and henceforth following conferences, are implemented within the overall vision of serving expatriate interests and strengthening their sense of cultural belonging, as well as activating their involvement in reform and development in Syria.
Members were selected on the basis of consultation with the Syrian Expatriate delegations present at the conference so as to represent all continents (currently 15 members). Membership is for one year within which the council will endorses the organizational mandate and will set mechanisms for the selection of the members of next council. and The Council will always be chaired by the Minister of Expatriates.
MOEX Local Advisory Board
The Syrian Advisory Board is made up of local consultants, selected by the Minister of Expatriates, who heads the Board, in cooperation with UNDP; supported by the Ministry’s conference secretariat, to ensure that the various initiatives, decisions, and recommendations received from the Syrian Expatriates Conference 2004 are implemented within the overall vision and values of the Ministry of Expatriates and the MOEX-UNDP partnership, i.e. maintaining expatriate interests, engaging them as partners in national reform and development and achieving institutional readjustment and capacity building.
The board works in coordination with the Syrian Expatriate Advisory Council
Secretariat of Syrian Expatriates Conference
The Ministry assigned a Conference Secretariat Team that will be dedicated to support the work of the Advisory Board and the Advisory Council and to facilitate communication and coordination between the Expatriate Advisoty Council, the Local Advisory Board and partner ministries and organizations to implement the recommendations.
Syrian Expatriate Fund
The Syrian Expatriate Fund (SEF) is being established as a main financing tool under the MOEX-UNDP project With Syrian Expatriates For Development with a multiple management arrangement that ensures transparency and accountability. The Managing partners will be the Ministry of Expatriates, the State Planning Commission and the United Nations Development Programme in Syria. SEF will hold assets for the benefit of designated projects and/or organizations (governmental, private or civil), and other assets designated for the general benefit of sustainable development is Syria. These funds will be disbursed in compliance with the policy and rules that govern the utilization of contributions received from Syrian expatriate individuals as well as organizations.
Press Coverage
The conference made a significant impact on local, regional and international media. It was reported in a wide range of publications including the New York Times, the Washington Times, the International Herald Tribune, the Boston Herald, and Beirut’s Daily Star.
The Washington Times published a lengthy feature article entitled “Syrian expatriates: hopes and challenges” on the day after the conclusion of the conference, describing it as a chance to “explore opportunities for investing in [Syria] and accelerating its reform process.”
The author, Dalal Saoud, quotes Minister of Expatriates, Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban discussing the role of the conference:
"The…role is to show and improve the real image of Syria and the Arabs…there is a huge campaign of misinformation about our country and rights. We need you to tell the truth about who we are. We don't want propaganda, but only to speak the truth: that Syria wants to build peace and justice in the Middle East."
The article also refers to the opening speech and to H.E. Bashar al Assad’s criticism of the slow pace of the reform process in Syria "at a time of accelerated economic and scientific development in the world."
The article further quotes from the President’s speech and states that he spoke frankly about "obstacles, difficulties and poor performance" and promised a comprehensive review of the reform plan, by introducing new laws.
This willingness to admit problems, which was found throughout the conference, was seen as a positive sign. As Saoud wrote, “such frank discussions and criticism reflected the new open mood in Syria.”
The article ends on another positive note, citing the “first tangible result” of the conference, the “election of a 12-member Advisory Immigration Council made up of expatriates from the various Syrian communities and an agreement with the United Nations Development Program to strengthen the transfer of Syrian expatriate expertise.”
A warning is sounded, however, in the words of one participant: “the real test will be to adopt serious steps, to introduce new laws and to push forward for the long-awaited reform."
The Russian Pravda published an article entitled: “The precious trust: Syrian expatriates help their motherland. The writer, Alexander Gorlov, sheds light on the great response to the call for participation.
The article focuses on the important role the conference played in attracting expatriates investment. The writer refers to the opening speech of President Assad in which he "invited business men to employ their capitals in the country’s development". The writer said that the impact the president’s speech was that his ideas were close to the audience and his invitation to invest in Syria was welcomed by expatriates.
The writer further refers to the speech of the Minister of Expatriates in which she talked about "the tangible steps made by the Government to attract investment and provide the necessary environment".
The writer concludes with admiration of this Syrian initiative towards expatriates; and urges Russia to "learn from Syria how to win the investors’ trust".
Achievements up to date
The decree No. (2)/2005
This decree specifies the value of financial substitute for military service as follows:
1- 2000 USD for Syrian expatriate borm in Arab or foreign countries and resided there until reaching the age of conscription.
2- 5000 USD for Syrian expatriates who left the Syrian Arab republic to other countries before completing 11 yeas of age, and leaved there for no less than 15 years.
Syrian passport renewal
New simplified procedures for passport renewal will be soon applied. The new procedures provide that the expatriate who needs to renew his/her passport should apply to the Syrian embassy in his country of residences where this passport will be photocopied. The photocopy of the passport will be used with other necessary documents to complete the renewal process thus the expatriate will be able to keep his/her old passport with him or her until a new passport is issued.
Housing cooperatives for expatriates in Syria
In cooperation with the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of expatriates has introduced regulations for housing cooperatives for expatriates in Syria. The first is already being established for Syrian expatriates in Germany.
Acknowledgement
This conference would not have been possible
were it not for the invaluable loving devotion of many Syrian
local and expatriate individuals and institutions.
With their support we continue towards the
Syrian Expatriate Conference 2005.
With dedication we express our gratitude.
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