Yesterday, Syria and India have assured to improve their economic bond and to effort much personally in the information technology domain subsequent to a gathering flanked by their two nations’ leaders in Damascus.

The Indian leader of state, Pratibha Patil, declared a US$100 million (Dh367m) row of credit swears to twofold trade stages in just three years and vowed familiar co-operation in the state-of-the-art domain.

The Government to do more to ensure access to quality services for everyone living in the Middle Eastern nation was called in by an independent United Nations expert while commending Syria's efforts to advance the right to health.

Plans of setting up a $326 Million unit in Syria, Bahrain's Gulf Finance House intends to come up with Islamic investment bank in order to elevate revenues in a banking market which is almost unused.

This investment bank is intended to get fee income in a year. Local investors will fund 10% while GFH along with other financial bodies will offer 60% of funds for the budding bank. It was stated that Approval from the Central Bank is anticipated and the remaining 30% of Syria Finance House in an IPO will be proposed to the public.

Qatar National Bank Syria, which 49% is owned by Qatar National Bank, has announced the successful completion of the subscription phase of its IPO, which concluded on 10 August 2009.

The lender stated in a communiqué that its SYP1.7 billion ($36.9m) initial public offering (IPO) has received bids worth SYR4.56bn for the 3.4 million shares it offered in the IPO.

The public offering was nearly 2.5-times oversubscribed.

In a television contest, the Syrian, Hassan Baiti, bagged the title of the 'Prince of Poets' last night, and won Dh1 million (US$272,000).

The final round competition was amongst six contestants. Yemeni Mohammed al Sudi got the least points from the judges and audience and he walked away from the competition.