Earlier this week, a delegation led by Mr. Niels Annen, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), travelled to Kisweh to see the result of the first mechanical demining delivered by GCS firsthand.

Representatives from BMZ, KfW, the German Embassy, the German business community, the Syrian National Mine Action Centre (SMAC) and the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited the GCS operational facility, where they attended the official introduction of the GCS-100 and a live field demonstration.

The visit provided an opportunity to showcase how quickly mine action capacity is being established in Syria. Since March, GCS has expanded its presence in the country, recruited and trained Syrian personnel and deployed the first GCS-100 mechanical clearance platform in Syria and completed its first operational tasks.

For Amer Mardam-Bey, GCS Country Director for Syria, the visit reflected the importance of cooperation in turning plans into operational reality:

"The progress we have made in recent months has been possible through cooperation. Bringing together government stakeholders, technical expertise, local operators and international partners creates the conditions needed to expand mine action capacity and support communities affected by explosive hazards."

During the event, representatives from both Germany and Syria highlighted the importance of this continued collaboration in addressing explosive contamination and supporting long-term recovery efforts. Fadi Al Saleh, Director of SMAC, emphasised the value of deploying advanced technology and international expertise to help address contamination challenges across the country. Niels Annen also underlined the role of mine action as part of broader reconstruction efforts. 

The GCS-100 demonstration formed part of a wider discussion on how technology, local expertise and international cooperation can contribute to expanding mine action capacity in Syria.

As GCS continues to expand its activities in Syria, the organisation remains focused on building local capability, supporting national mine action efforts and helping create safer conditions for communities, infrastructure development and long-term recovery.