US funds digitization of Syrian business and property records

The Syrian government launched a project to digitize company registrations and commercial documents with funding from the US State Department.

The initiative, which costs $1 million, aims to connect 14 ministry directorates across the country to a centralized system. This project includes building a modern data center and converting more than 5 million historical commercial documents into digital formats. The Ministry of Industry, Internal Trade and Consumer Protection and the international organization Creative Associates International are managing the project.

Officials expect the new system to allow investors to register companies and monitor applications through an online platform. This move intends to reduce the need for paper documents and in-person visits to government offices. The ministry says the initiative will also train government employees to maintain the new digital systems. A separate $2 million agreement will also digitize property records in Syria. This second project involves the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment and Creative Associates International.

They plan to establish five electronic archiving centers in the governorates of Damascus, Aleppo, Deir Ezzor, Hama, and Raqqa, plus a central data facility in Damascus. The project provides equipment and training to help preserve ownership documents and resolve property disputes caused by years of conflict.