Key French Companies That Signed Cooperation Agreements with Syria

The People's Palace in Damascus hosted, on 7 July 2026, the signing of fifteen bilateral cooperation agreements between the Syrian and French governments, concluded at a joint roundtable co-chaired by President Ahmad al-Sharaa and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. The visit marks the first official trip by a French president to Syria in approximately eighteen years.

Comprehensive Cooperation Framework

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot signed a declaration establishing a comprehensive bilateral cooperation framework covering political affairs, security, defence, institutional reform, economic and investment exchange, culture, and higher education. President al-Sharaa affirmed that the Syrian-French partnership focuses on concrete projects rather than declarations, noting that global companies in energy, aviation, and infrastructure are actively exploring cooperation with Syria.

CMA CGM: Shipping and Port Operations

CMA CGM, the French multinational shipping group, stands out as one of the most significant signatories. A strategic partnership was formalised covering maritime and air transport and logistics services, signed by the head of Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports, Qutaiba Badawi, and CMA CGM Chief Executive Rodolphe Saadé. The agreement includes a thirty-year concession to develop and operate the Port of Latakia with investments of 230 million euros, alongside the operation of two dry ports and the management of air cargo handling at Damascus International Airport.

TotalEnergies: Oil and Gas Sector

TotalEnergies, one of the world's seven major oil companies, founded in 1924, covers the full oil and gas value chain from exploration and production to refining and marketing. The company had previously signed a memorandum of understanding with the Syrian Petroleum Company in May for offshore oil exploration in the Mediterranean. Its Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanné held talks with Syrian officials in Damascus on a formal offshore exploration contract. Syria's Energy Minister confirmed that TotalEnergies will be a partner in extending oil pipelines from Iraq to the port of Baniyas.

Healthcare, Water, and Banking Agreements

The signed agreements span several vital sectors, including:

• Syria's Ministry of Higher Education signed a memorandum of understanding with French firm Ellipse Projects SAS to develop university hospitals, covering the construction of new facilities in Deir ez-Zor, Aleppo, and Tartus, and the rehabilitation of existing ones in Damascus, Aleppo, and Homs.
• Syria's Water and Sanitation Authority signed a cooperation protocol with French company Novakan for modular water treatment and energy solutions in Homs Governorate.
• The Governor of the Central Bank of Syria signed a memorandum of understanding with Expertise France for institutional strengthening, technical support, and capacity building at the Central Bank.
• An agreement was signed with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to support vital sectors in Syria.
• The Syrian-French and French-Syrian Business Councils signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen economic cooperation and develop bilateral trade relations.

Civil Aviation and Asset Recovery

The agreements also included a declaration of intent in the field of civil aviation and a protocol for managing air cargo handling and marketing of air freight services. President al-Sharaa announced that Syria is in the process of signing a contract for eight Airbus aircraft. On the financial front, the Élysée Palace announced the formal launch of procedures to return 51 million euros to the Syrian state