Adra Industrialists in Damascus demand new management; warn of collapse of Syrian production

Adra Industrial City in Damascus has witnessed a wave of protests by industrialists expressing their dissatisfaction with the measures taken by the new administration appointed by the transitional government in Syria, following the dissolution of the previous board of directors and the transfer of decision-making powers to a single entity lacking sufficient expertise in managing the industrial city, according to their description.

The industrial city is located in Adra, rural Damascus, 35 kilometers northeast of the capital. It spans an area of seven thousand hectares and includes four main sectors: engineering industries, textile industries, food industries, and chemical industries.

The number of industrial establishments in Adra Industrial City has reached 780 facilities.

The industrialists indicate that recent decisions included the cancellation of licenses for many industrialists and the imposition of transactions in US dollars in some cases, leading to administrative chaos where each official issues decisions independently without clear references. They confirm that some industrialists were asked to pay the equivalent of $100,000 for installments not exceeding the value of 10 million Syrian pounds.

At the same time, industrialists criticize the absence of the role of the Chamber of Industry, considering its president as merely safeguarding his position without intervening to protect their interests. Meanwhile, establishments are treated as if they are unpatriotic, as they describe, with existing contracts canceled and allocation transactions delayed for days without justification.

The industrialists demand reconsideration of the decision to dissolve the board of directors, which was taken by the city manager Samer Ismail in violation of laws, and call for the formation of a management that represents the industrialists and understands the nature of the city. They point to countries such as Saudi Arabia, China, and the United States, which adopt protective measures for their national industries and grant privileges to local factories, urging the adoption of similar policies to support Syrian products and turn them into economic ambassadors for the country.

Industrialists in Adra Industrial City express fears of being displaced from the city in favor of industrialists from northern Syria and Idlib, noting that “this is what the new city manager, who was imposed on them despite his lack of knowledge of the city’s operations, is working on.”

The industrialists issued a plea for fairness, calling on the concerned authorities to intervene urgently to save the industrial sector in Adra, affirming that the continuation of the current situation threatens the future of local production and undermines economic recovery opportunities.

Syria has four major industrial cities: Adra Industrial City in rural Damascus northeast of the capital, Sheikh Najjar Industrial City affiliated with Aleppo, the industrial city in Husseineh south of Homs, and the industrial city in Deir ez-Zor.