LONDON(RAHNUMA): A delegation from the Syrian Arab Republic is participating in the World Summit on the Information Society Forum 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, as the country seeks to rebuild and reconnect with the global economy.
The delegation, which is led by Khaled Al-Homsi, director general of Syria’s Telecommunications and Post Regulatory Authority, aims to strengthen international cooperation and build partnerships in telecommunications and information technology, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported.
The forum, which is organized by the International Telecommunication Union and several UN agencies, runs until July 10. It is being held at the ITU headquarters on Monday and Tuesday before moving to Geneva’s Palexpo exhibition center for sessions from Wednesday to Friday.
The event brings together governments, private companies, academics, civil society groups and international organizations to discuss digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, infrastructure and digital inclusion.
Al-Homsi said Syria’s participation reflected renewed engagement with international forums.
“Syria is returning to these international forums,” Al-Homsi told SANA reporters.
He said the outreach could help Syria secure technical support, training and knowledge transfer needed to rebuild its telecommunications sector and advance digital transformation.
More than a decade of war has severely damaged Syria’s telecommunications infrastructure. Bombing hit major network hubs, while towers, cables and equipment were looted or stolen.
Mobile service quality also deteriorated sharply as key equipment was lost or left without maintenance, and repeated power outages knocked many sites offline.
Hussein Al-Masri, the former communications minister in Syria’s caretaker government, told Annahar newspaper last year that restoring the country’s telecommunications infrastructure could cost as much as $200 billion.
As Syria restores ties with governments in the region, it is expected to draw Gulf investment. Earlier this month, the Kuwait-based Zain Group was awarded a 25-year license to operate a mobile network in Syria after a competitive application process run by the Communications Ministry.
