Damascus, SANA-Syrian-American entrepreneurs and engineers from Silicon Valley, California, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Technology, organized the “SYNC’25 II” conference on Friday to advance the global tech industry.

The event was held at the Seven Gates Hotel in Damascus.

The two-day conference, held under the motto “Let’s Lead Technology,” aims to connect Syrian professionals with the latest technological advancements that have largely been inaccessible in recent years. It offers young people interested in tech the chance to engage with leading minds in the industry, promote knowledge exchange, develop professional skills, create job opportunities, and foster collaboration between Syrian talent and global tech experts.

In his speech, Minister of Communications and Technology Abdul Salam Haykal affirmed that the youth participating in the conference brought their passion, intellect, and expertise to contribute to Syria’s new rise. He noted Syria’s openness to the world through strengthening regional and international partnerships, with strong interest in presenting agreements and collaborations in the tech sector.

The minister reviewed several projects the ministry is working on, some of which are already underway and will be launched soon. Among them is the “Barq” project, which aims to provide high-speed internet at workplaces and homes. More than 50 companies have applied to participate in the project.

He also mentioned the “Silk Link” project, which will provide a new backbone fiber-optic infrastructure across Syria, aiming to transform the country into a regional hub for data transmission and international connectivity. Applications for the project closed a week ago, with major regional companies having submitted proposals.

Participants’ discussions focused on how Syrian youth can engage in the tech job market, the technologies currently used in Syria, and the potential to develop them through investment projects that meet national needs and benefit various sectors. Topics also included the role of women in entrepreneurship, health technology, and applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

In a statement to SANA, Basil al-Aja, a member of the Silicon Valley team organizing the conference, said the core idea is to create an effective communication network between Syrian talent and tech companies. This would enable the exchange of expertise, improvement of current competencies in computer and tech skills, and the creation of job opportunities for creative youth.

Team member Maysara Taqi Al-Din told SANA that the team’s mission is to create 25,000 job opportunities for Syrians in the field of information technology over the next five years.

MHD Ibrahim