Qatar reveals commitment to help rebuild Syria

• Qatar’s first visit to Syria in 13 years
• Investing in ports and energy
• Reconstruction could cost $400bn

Qatar says it will play a central role in the reconstruction of Syria,and has plans to invest in sectors including energy and port infrastructure.

Qatar’s state minister for foreign affairs, Mohamed Al-Khulaifi, made the commitment this week in what was the Gulf country’s first official visit to Syria in more than 13 years.

In a meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa, head of Syria’s new administration, Al-Khulaifi said discussions surrounded “bolstering ties, supporting Syria’s reconstruction, and addressing key issues like operational aid for Damascus International Airport under Qatar’s humanitarian initiatives”.

The Carnegie Middle East Center has previously put the bill to reconstruct war-torn Syria at between $250 billion and $400 billion – Syria’s GDP is estimated at only $6.2 billion.

Al-Sharaa has also extended an official invite to Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to visit the country.

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Qatar reopened its embassy in Syria earlier this month. It had been closed since July 2011 when its ambassador was withdrawn from Damascus following former president Bashar al-Assad’s deadly crackdown on protestors, violence which led to the start of the deadly 13-year civil war.

A statement from Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the commitment was part of “steadfast support” for the people of Syria’s “demands for a dignified life, freedom, and social justice”.

Meetings in Syria were also held with Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi on Monday and with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday.