State of the World from NPR cover image

State of the World from NPR

Building a Tech Industry in Syria From Scratch

Mar 20, 2025
A conference in Damascus brought together visionaries aiming to revive Syria's tech industry, a sector dormant during years of civil war. The resilient journey of a Syrian-American graduate student from Stanford showcases both the potential and the obstacles ahead. Participants shared hopes and challenges, highlighting ambitions that persist despite the harsh realities of the past. It's a tale of ingenuity and determination, capturing the spirit of rebuilding a nation from scratch.
05:22

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Quick takeaways

  • The tech conference in Damascus symbolizes the resilience and aspirations of Syrians aiming to rebuild their tech industry post-war.
  • Significant challenges such as U.S. sanctions and infrastructure deficits hinder the growth of Syria's emerging technology sector.

Deep dives

Reviving the Tech Industry in Post-War Syria

A tech conference held in Damascus aimed to ignite the virtually non-existent technology sector in Syria, which suffered during the prolonged civil war. Over 700 attendees, including many young entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts, gathered to discuss building a brighter future for the country. Despite the excitement, many participants, like Abdul Wahab Omira, highlighted significant obstacles, such as a lack of infrastructure, electricity, and internet connectivity. The aspiration to create a robust tech community underlines the resilience of Syrians who seek to uplift their nation amidst the aftermath of war.

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