In a sign of growing relations, Syria plans to participate in an honorary capacity in the 2019 Yalta International Economic Forum (YIEF) in the Crimean Peninsula, set for April 17-20. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he hopes to attend, as Syria and Crimea are seeking to develop their economic ties and encourage joint investments.
Andrey Nazarov, co-chairman of the YIEF Organizing Committee, said Nov. 9 that a Syrian delegation will attend for the second consecutive year. In April, a delegation headed by Syrian Minister of Economy Samer al-Khalil and including 80 businesspeople and representatives of Syrian governmental organizations attended the fourth YIEF. During that forum, Yalta and the Syrian port city of Latakia signed a twin-city relations agreement.
