Damascus- Syria today is seeking to restore its prominent role in the Arab media and artistic scene, especially in the field of television drama that the Syrians have always been distinguished before the outbreak of the war (2012-2024), and through which they achieved a remarkable presence on the screens in the region.
In this context, the Syrian Ministry of Information announced, in late June, the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the “Maha International” company to establish the city of “Damascus Gate”, which will be the first integrated city of media, cinematic and tourism production in the country, with an investment of $ 1.5 billion, and an area of nearly two million square meters in Damascus and its countryside.
Job opportunities
In a speech to the signing ceremony of the agreement, the Minister of Information, Hamza Al -Mustafa, said that the city, which is distributed in 4 sections, will include external studios that simulate the Arab and Islamic style, and another internal equipped with the latest production technologies, as well as training, employment and tourist and entertainment centers.
Al -Mustafa pointed out that this project is expected to provide more than 13 thousand jobs, 4 thousand direct opportunities and 9 thousand seasonal segments, which contributes to creating sustainable professional paths for Syrian youth.
The minister said that the project “comes within the framework of government trends to attract specific investments and enhance the cultural identity of Syria.” He pointed out that the Syrian media will be a partner in development, not just a carrier.
For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al -Maha Mohamed Al -Anzi Company explained that the “Damascus Gate” is a cultural and development project and not just a real estate or tourist investment, and aims to make Syria a regional center for media production, and a platform for exporting its civilized image, through an advanced infrastructure that takes it from 5 to 7 years, and with the participation of specialized international companies.
Dramatic leadership
Marwan Al -Hussein, director of the National Drama Committee in the Ministry of Information, said that the goal that is aimed at achieving the “Damascus Gate” project is “to restore the leading and real positioning of one of the most important industries in Syria, which is the drama industry, and harnessing all energies in order to shine this industry, which we look forward to and we hope to reach the ranks of the world.”
Al -Hussein considered – in a statement to Al -Jazeera Net – that Syria is rich in heavy cultural diversity and renewed creative energies, in addition to a historic dimension; Which qualifies her to be an Arab leader, where the first rows crowded, in addition to the availability of leadership aspiration at the regional and global levels.
On the job opportunities that this project can provide, Al -Hussein indicated that it can be estimated in view of the huge size of the project, considering that the “Damascus Gate” project will have an exceptional role in attracting various staff to advance it, whether in the construction stage or in the subsequent stages.
Al -Hussein explained that the “defunct regime” has worked for years to obliterate the cultural and artistic identity in Syria, and link it himself away from the ancient civilizational history of the country, and therefore the government official believes that this project will open the prospects for creativity to workers in the dramatic field (writers, directors, producers ..), in addition to being a polarization factor for foreign producers, and all of this will contribute to providing job opportunities.
integration
And on the role of the project in returning Syria to its natural position as a incubator for the dramatic and cinematic industry, the official said, “Syria has an ancient artistic history and full of achievements; it is full of creative cards, cultural minds, and active arms that are not known, and because the completion of this project in a country where all the elements of the success of this segment is a great attraction for the drama and cinema makers in the region, which leads to the return of Syria to the return of Syria to Syria Its natural regional positioning in this industry. “
Al -Hussein stressed that the most important factors for the success of any work is the integration of roles and the flexibility of coordination between the relevant official bodies, including committees, directorates and ministries, but he pointed out that the project is still in the process of “memorandum of understanding” that is satisfied with drawing the outlines, and when the detailed contract of the executive items “then everyone will be on one table, so that each sector takes its right role appropriate to achieve the productive integration And the effective, “according to Hussein.
The official asserts that the implementation of the building of the city of Damascus Gate can begin within 6 months, and the implementation of all construction operations will take place from 3 to 5 years.
The perfect environment
Andrei Wannis, a director of an executor for many Syrian dramas, considers that the Damascus Gate project represents a great opportunity for workers in the field of visual production, as it is a promising and diverse project that enhances all types of media and artistic production.
Wantis notes, in his interview with Al -Jazeera Net, that the technicians, academics, writers and Syrian directors will finally find a place they go to, as is the case with their peers in the countries adjacent to Syria, especially Egypt “that we must take into account.”
Wanis believes that this project will open many horizons for the Syrian drama, by securing infrastructure for production, which Syria lacks the minimum, to open the horizons in front of the book of dramatic and cinematic texts, and provide them with an imagination stemming from visiting the photography sites in the heart of the gate and interacting with it during the writing stage, to reduce the migration of creators, investors and technicians in the field of artistic and media production from Syria.
The executing director hopes that, in the near future, Syria will become an ideal environment for filming Arab dramas that can compete in global markets.
Wannis says at the end of his speech: “The Syrian artistic production is our image as Syrians in front of the world, and just as a new visual identity has been launched for Syria, there will certainly be a new visual identity for the Syrian drama that starts today with this project.”
The technical and media production in Syria witnessed during the rule of the deposed Bashar al -Assad regime in a state of decline and stagnation due to the severe restriction, as it underwent strict security control that prevented free expression or direct criticism, as the system used art and media as propaganda tools to promote Baathist ideology and glorify the authority and the army, which led to its emptying of its artistic and creative content. Artistic and media production suffered from severe weakness in financing and the absence of modern infrastructure, which led to a significant decline in its quality.