More than 300 companies from over 20 countries opened the NASTEX 2026 Syria International Textile Expo in Damascus on Saturday, marking Syria's most concerted attempt yet to rebuild a textile sector that was once among the country's largest employers and exporters before more than a decade of conflict devastated it.

The four-day event runs through July 21 at Damascus' Conference Palace. Exhibitors span the full supply chain: manufacturers of textiles, garments and furnishings, alongside suppliers of machinery, equipment, yarns and raw materials. A digital transformation track features industrial technology providers, signalling that organisers are courting not only production orders but also capital-equipment buyers.

Organizers position NASTEX as a platform to connect manufacturers, suppliers and investors and to forge new commercial partnerships, with the stated aim of opening new markets for Syrian products. They describe it as the Middle East's first integrated event dedicated to textiles, furnishings and interior design.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa inaugurated the exhibition on July 18, framing the sector's revival as central to reconstruction. He described the textile industry as a cornerstone of the country's economic heritage and said revitalising it could create thousands of jobs while restoring industrial production and economic growth.

"A point of departure"

Al-Sharaa called the exhibition "a point of departure" in addressing poverty and economic hardship. He said Syria is working to build a new phase based on civil peace, national unity, balanced diplomacy, security and economic development, positioning the country for a return as a regional centre for production, innovation and skilled labour.

Economy and Industry Minister Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar went further in framing the event's commercial signal. NASTEX is "more than a specialized exhibition," he said, calling it a message of confidence in Syria's return as a regional hub for manufacturing, industry and trade.

Al-Shaar outlined the government's policy direction: removing obstacles to production, modernising industry, encouraging innovation and expanding exports. A central stated goal is restoring the reputation of the "Made in Syria" label in regional and international markets.

Fadi al-Mohamid, founder of NASTEX, said the exhibition serves as a platform connecting manufacturers, suppliers and investors to promote new business partnerships.

For sourcing executives, the event's significance lies in what it signals about capacity recovery in a country that historically held a meaningful position in regional textile supply. Syrian officials hope renewed economic activity and increased investor participation will restore production volumes and improve the sector's competitiveness in regional and international markets.

What remains untested is follow-through. The exhibition delivers political commitment and exhibitor turnout; it does not yet evidence confirmed buyer-supplier contracts, restored factory headcounts or rebuilt capacity figures. No specific investment amounts, order volumes or named international buyers were disclosed at the opening.

Buyers weighing Syrian supply now face a two-track decision: monitor NASTEX outcomes for verifiable order and investment announcements, and begin compliance due diligence on Syrian suppliers against sanctions exposure and traceability requirements before any program commitments. The policy direction from Damascus is clear. The commercial evidence base is only starting to form.