A personal reflection by Ziad Lutfi, supported by Syria Meets Europe
As a Syrian businessman who spent decades building enterprises in Damascus before 2011, returning home is not just a nostalgic gesture. It is a deliberate decision rooted in hope, responsibility, and vision.
Now in my early 60s and living in Canada for over a decade, I recently returned to Syria to assess what it would take to reopen my former businesses and possibly explore new opportunities in a country seeking renewal. What I found was both sobering and deeply inspiring.
Damascus: Familiar Streets, New Energy
From the moment I stepped out into the streets of Damascus, I felt a powerful mix of memories and new beginnings. The city’s rhythm has changed. It is slower in parts and more cautious, but its entrepreneurial pulse is unmistakably returning.
I walked past some of the old stores I once owned and ran. Some are shuttered. Others have new tenants. But the entrepreneurial spirit I remember from the early 2000s is alive again. Not just in the form of traditional trade, but through youth-driven startups, creative services, and technology ventures.
Reconnecting with Roots and Business
One of my goals was to explore whether it is feasible to re-establish my logistics and distribution business. I met with local chambers of commerce, toured industrial zones, and spoke with manufacturers and transport operators.
There are challenges. Regulatory gaps, limited infrastructure, and currency instability remain issues. But there is also a hunger for stable, long-term partnerships. Many businesses are looking for partners who understand both Syria and international markets. That is where people like me, part of the Syrian diaspora, can contribute meaningfully.
Syria’s New Business Landscape
During my visit, I was introduced to emerging sectors that barely existed before 2011. These include solar power, rural agri-tech, digital learning platforms, and coworking spaces. Young professionals are taking bold risks with minimal resources. I visited a few of these spaces and was genuinely impressed.
At a tech-focused meetup in Damascus, I met returnees from Europe building remote-first startups. Some were working for European clients while living in Syria. Others were solving local problems using globally inspired tools.
This kind of hybrid thinking, rooted in Syria and connected to the world, is exactly what we need to build a sustainable economy.
Conversations That Matter
What moved me most were the one-on-one conversations. I spoke with young women founders, mid-career professionals who had returned after years in Germany or the Netherlands, and family members trying to restart their businesses with little capital but big hopes.
They asked the same questions I had. Will the infrastructure hold? Can we trust the system to support growth? What happens if conditions deteriorate again?
There are no simple answers. But these are the questions we must confront if we are serious about rebuilding Syria with dignity.
What Role Can We Play?
As someone who has lived through Syria’s golden years, its darkest moments, and now its uncertain recovery, I feel a sense of duty. Not to fix everything, but to help restart what we had and to open doors for the next generation.
I have started speaking with international contacts about potential reinvestment. And I have joined forces with Syria Meets Europe to help make these dialogues more structured, inclusive, and actionable.
Syria Meets Europe: A Platform for Action
What struck me about Syria Meets Europe is its balance between vision and execution. It is not about charity or slogans. It is about:
- Connecting entrepreneurs across continents
- Facilitating serious return journeys with real support
- Creating spaces where Syrian resilience meets European expertise
- Supporting job creation rather than dependency
Final Thoughts
My journey back to Syria was emotional, practical, and empowering. I am not just reminiscing about the past. I am actively planning for the future. And I am not alone.
If you are a member of the Syrian diaspora, or someone in Europe wondering if it is time to get involved, the answer is yes. The situation remains fragile, but it is moving forward. And it is people like us, grounded in both worlds, who can help shape what comes next.
Ziad Lutfi
Syrian-Canadian Entrepreneur
Contributor to Syria Meets Europe
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