Syria
India and Syria enjoy friendly political relations based on historic and civilizational links. Both countries have a secular, nationalist and developmental orientation, share similar perceptions on many international and regional issues and are a member of NAM. There have been regular bilateral exchanges at the highest levels since the establishment of diplomatic ties.
Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic
- Government of India has supplied 1.3573 million doses of Covishield Covid-19 vaccine under Covax scheme to fight against Covid-19.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- Under the “Study in India” scholarship programme of the GoI, 393 Syrian students were placed in several Indian Universities for UG, Masters and Ph.D programmes during the academic year 2018-19, and another 600 scholarship slots were allotted for the academic year 2019-20. The Foreign Training Institutes of the two countries signed an MOU of cooperation in January 2018. The phase three and phase four of the programme is in implementation stage.
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- In March 2018, India delivered humanitarian aid worth US$ 6 million in form of pharmaceuticals and food stuff (tea, sugar, palm oil).
- India facilitated the development and modernization of the Hama Iron & Steel Plant, under a LOC of US$25 million, which was extended to Syria in 2008. Indian company Apollo International Limited in tandem with GECOSTEEL under the Syrian Ministry of Industry has completed (2017) the project during the crisis.
- India assisted Syria in carrying out a feasibility study on augmentation of its phosphate production. A consortium of Indian companies, comprising of PDIL, RITES and MECON carried out the study. India is looking into cooperation with Syria in this sector. An MOU on Cooperation in Fertilizer sector was also concluded in October 2010. The MOU will facilitate Indian involvement in the development of phosphatic fertilizer sector in Syria.
- India has supplied 13.3 tons medical aid to Syria in the aftermath of earthquake in February 2023.
