Dr. Nasser Saidi’s comments on Syria’s reopening and recent GCC investments in contrast with Lebanon’s crises appeared in an article in The National titled “As Syria moves towards economic reopening, Lebanon remains stuck in cycle of crises” published on 15th May 2026.
The comments are posted below.
“Syria has enormous investment opportunities in both the public and private sectors, as the country begins a process of redevelopment,” said Nasser Saidi, president of Nasser Saidi and Associates and former Lebanese economy minister.
“Syria’s geographic position and its geostrategic importance have been highlighted due to the war in the Gulf,” said Mr Saidi. “With the Strait of Hormuz blocked, the Gulf is looking for new corridors for its trade, both imports and exports, with access to the Mediterranean through Syria and Turkey gaining strategic importance in the coming months and years. Trade corridors are being reconfigured.”
This could mean that Syria is being repositioned, in some investor calculations, as a potential transit bridge connecting Asia and Europe.
In contrast…
“Lebanon continues to be bogged down by the enormous destruction from the continuing war and the unresolved financial meltdown of 2019,” said Mr Saidi. “Investment is seen as high-risk with low geopolitical leverage. Without a clear economic road map and International Monetary Fund-backed reforms, Gulf capital will remain on the sidelines.”
