DAMASCUS, (SANA)-Syrian –Romanian businessmen meeting on Monday discussed relations of trade and economic cooperation between Syria and Romania and the obstacles and problems facing them.

Romanian Minister of Economy and Finance Varujan Vosganian, who chairs his country's delegation to Syria said Sunday : "The two countries enjoy economic openness that allows each of them to be a main gate for the other to enter its market."

He added :"The Syrians enjoy a talent of trade," pointing out to the existence of 5 thousand Syrian companies which enjoy many privileges, the most important one is turning of these companies automatically into a company in the European Union, since Romania is a Member State of the Union.

Vosganian stressed his country's desire to cooperate with Syria and to make any Syrian initiative to boost this cooperation a success.

For their parts, Syrian businessmen underlined desire in increasing cooperation between the two countries , reviewing a number of problems hindering this cooperation.

Syrian Businessmen offered several suggestions to enhance relations of cooperation such as reducing the customs tariffs on the Syrian agricultural and industrial products to facilitate its entry into the Romanian market, signing agreements between the two countries and preventing the double taxation.

The meeting chaired by Chairman of the Union of Syrian Chambers of Commerce Rateb Al Shalah in the presence of Chairman of Syrian –Romanian Businessmen Council Hassan al-Sabahi, Syria's Ambassador in Bucharest and Romania's Ambassador in Damascus.

Nawal / Ghossoun