Malmö, Sweden 02 / 12 / 2026
قمة الشراكة الاقتصادية بين دول الشمال الأوروبي وسوريا 2026
PeopleInvestmentKnowledgeDevelopment
Bringing together Syrian and Nordic businesses, public institutions, researchers and diaspora professionals to understand Syria's recovery priorities, exchange experience and explore responsible partnerships that can lead to practical next steps.
By invitation · 100 participants
Until we meet in Malmö
Participation does not imply organisational endorsement or sponsorship.
Malmö City Hall · Rådhuset
Stortorget 2, 211 34 Malmö, Sweden
Find the main entrance facing Stortorget. Use the directions below to plan your journey.
Get directionsSyria's recovery requires more than good ideas. It requires understanding local priorities, building trust, and connecting the right people and institutions.
The Summit brings Syrian stakeholders, diaspora professionals, Nordic businesses, public institutions and researchers together to exchange experience, explore opportunities and identify realistic next steps.
Syrian priorities & Nordic partnerships
Understanding Syria's recovery priorities, institutional challenges and economic opportunities, and where Nordic–Syrian cooperation can make a practical contribution.
Explore the discussionThe diaspora's role in practical cooperation
Learning from earlier initiatives and connecting diaspora experience, professional skills and networks with Syrian needs and Nordic institutions.
Explore the discussionResponsible business & institutional engagement
Exploring local needs, reliable partnerships and practical pathways for Nordic businesses, municipalities and institutions engaging with Syria.
Explore the discussionExamples of project areas: Training and education · Water · Agriculture · Finance
Featured keynotes & city welcome
Ambassador of Sweden to Syria
Director of the International Cooperation DepartmentSyrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
President of the City CouncilMalmö City
ChairmanSYNPAC
Entrepreneur and Researcher in Business InnovationKarlstad University
Panelists, hosts & contributors
Head of the European Cooperation DivisionSyrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
Deputy DirectorSwedish Dialogue Institute for the Middle East and North Africa
Board MemberSYNPAC
Senior Lecturer in Business AdministrationMid Sweden University
Director of the Department of Expatriate and Refugee AffairsSyrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
Deputy CEO & CFOFransabank Syria
Board MemberDamascus Securities Exchange
Editor-in-ChiefAlkompis Media
Activity Lead and Platform EngineerInter IKEA
Senior Business Development ManagerBusiness and Trade Office, Malmö City
Syrian Medical Association in Sweden
Assistant Professor of EconomicsQatar University
Project ManagerSYNPAC
Associate ProfessorKarlstad University
Country DirectorNIRAS International Consulting Denmark
Member, Women’s Business CouncilLatakia Chamber of Commerce
Project ManagerBusiness Sweden
Three panels explore Nordic partnership, diaspora engagement, and business engagement in Syria. Eight pilot project idea spotlights are followed by a project walk-through, direct conversations with project teams, and next steps.
Wednesday, 2 December 202608:30–16:00 CET
Malmö City HallStortorget 2, 211 34 Malmö, Sweden
Registration team
Three-minute film
Aycoul Almotlak
Carina Nilsson, President of the Malmö City Council
Kotaiba Aal, Chairman of SYNPAC
Qutaiba Kadish, Director of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Syrian Arab Republic
Ambassador Jessica Svärdström
What Will It Take to Build Meaningful Cooperation?
A discussion on Syria's recovery priorities, economic opportunities and institutional challenges, and the role that Nordic–Syrian cooperation can play in addressing them.
Laith Rikabi — Deputy CEO & CFO, Fransabank Syria; Board Member, Damascus Securities Exchange
Yasmin Othmani — Member, Women’s Business Council, Latakia Chamber of Commerce
Hasan Fallaha — Inclusive Growth & Financing Team Leader, UNDP
Abdulkarim Ekzayez — Head of the European Cooperation Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Syrian Arab Republic
Focus: Recovery priorities · Institutions and trust · Economic opportunity · Practical cooperation
Moderator: Mustafa Nourallah, SYNPAC Board Member and Senior Lecturer in Business Administration, Mid Sweden University.
Coffee, networking and transition to Panel 2
What Has Worked, What Has Stalled, and What Can We Build Next?
With a substantial Syrian community established across Sweden and the Nordic countries, how can professional experience, entrepreneurship, research and civic engagement contribute to Syria's recovery?
Nahla Othman — Director of the Department of Expatriate and Refugee Affairs, Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
Abdullah Almasri — Associate Professor at Karlstad University
Belal Al Shawa — Syrian Medical Association in Sweden
Ammar Bakkour — Researcher, Aram Lab
Insights from research on Syria’s startup ecosystem, including funding barriers, institutional coordination and ways diaspora expertise and networks can support entrepreneurs.
This panel examines lessons from earlier diaspora initiatives, barriers to effective cooperation, and practical ways to connect Syrian needs with the capabilities of diaspora professionals and Nordic institutions.
Moderator: Kotaiba Aal, Chairman of SYNPAC; Entrepreneur and Researcher in Business Innovation, Karlstad University.
Lunch and networking
Lessons, Challenges and Practical Pathways for Nordic Businesses and Institutions
As Syria enters a new phase of economic recovery, what would it take for Nordic businesses, municipalities and institutions to establish meaningful cooperation?
Rasmus Klitgaard — Country Director, NIRAS International Consulting Denmark
Lessons from entering and working in complex international markets, including partnership development and project implementation
Bashar Mustafa — Project Manager, Business Sweden
How Swedish companies assess new markets, identify commercial opportunities and navigate early engagement
Fadi Barakat — Senior Business Development Manager, Business and Trade Office, Malmö City
The role of municipalities in international business relationships, innovation and economic cooperation
Fredrik Bernshed — CEO, Arrow Lake AB
A company's perspective on technology, water solutions, commercial feasibility and the challenges of entering a new market
Drawing on experience from international markets, business development, technology and public-sector engagement, this panel explores the opportunities and practical challenges of working with Syria, from understanding local needs and identifying reliable partners to building trust and developing sustainable business relationships.
Moderator: Maria Chalhoub, Deputy Director, Swedish Dialogue Institute for the Middle East and North Africa.
A one-hour session presenting eight pilot project ideas; facilitated by Maxim Hamida. Discussion continues during the coffee break and project walk-through.
Participants visit the eight pilot project idea displays and speak directly with project teams
Summary of the day, follow-up process and closing remarks
Optional dinner · 19:00–21:00: An informal, invitation-only dinner, separate from the formal programme. Venue to be confirmed; attendance by RSVP. Calendar links cover the formal programme only.
Eight pilot project ideas developed by Syrians in Sweden will be discussed with intended beneficiaries visiting from Syria. Participants from Syria will bring their own priorities and questions, helping assess whether the proposed approaches are useful.
A defined need in Syria, a credible local counterpart, a named lead and a clear Nordic connection.
Selected ideas identify the expertise, partnership or other contribution needed, and a feasible first step.
A one-hour spotlight session introduces the eight ideas. The following coffee break and project walk-through allow participants to question assumptions and explore next steps.
Selection is based on the published qualification criteria. Participation does not imply funding or a commitment to implement.
The event is organized by SYNPAC in collaboration with Malmö City, and supported by the Swedish Dialogue Institute and the confirmed partners listed here.
SYNPAC is an independent, non-partisan Swedish nonprofit organisation established in 2025.
We connect Syrian people, institutions and businesses with Nordic expertise and networks, drawing on the capabilities of the Syrian diaspora to help cooperation move beyond the initial conversation.
Get to know SYNPACSyrian–Nordic Partnership and Alliance Council (SYNPAC ideell förening)
مجلس الشراكة والتحالف السوري ودول الشمال الأوروبي (سينباك)
