SYRIA called on fellow Arab countries today to invest in the war-torn nation, ahead of an Arab League summit later this week. 

Economy and Trade Minister Mohammed Samer al-Khalil made the appeal during an economic conference in Saudi Arabia, which will host the summit on May 19 in Riyadh.

The 22-member Arab League agreed earlier this month to restore Syria’s membership, ending a 12-year suspension.

However, crippling Western sanctions against the Bashar al-Assad government remain in place and could cause oil-rich Arab countries to hesitate before investing in Syria.

“We invite you to participate in investing in Syria, where there are important opportunities and promising horizons,” said Mr Khalil today as he addressed the opening session of the conference in Jeddah.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan welcomed Syria's return to the Arab League and said that he looked forward to the two countries working together “to achieve what we aim for.”

Syria was suspended from the league in 2011 over a government crackdown on mass protests against Mr Assad’s rule. 

The uprising quickly turned into a civil war that killed nearly a half million people and displaced half of the pre-war population of 23 million.