Trade Minister Ömer Bolat met with business representatives from the two countries as part of the Türkiye-Syria Trade Delegation and Bilateral Business Meetings program held in Damascus.
The roundtable meeting, organized by the Turkish Exporters Assembly under the coordination of the Trade Ministry, was attended by 200 business representatives from the two countries. Bolat assessed investment and economic partnership opportunities, as well as trade relations between Türkiye and Syria.
Areas of cooperation expand
Bolat said coordination between the two countries was continuing in the fields of politics, diplomacy, defense, the economy, transportation, energy, trade, investment and construction, adding that the sides had established the necessary legal mechanisms and legislative framework.
Bolat said 20 months had passed since the revolution began in Syria, adding that the country had made significant progress in terms of its political sphere, internal security, national unity and territorial integrity. He said these developments would also be reflected in the economy, adding that the lifting of the embargo and unity in the political sphere would have a positive impact.
Focus on JETCO and transit corridors
Bolat listed the establishment of a Joint Economic and Trade Committee between Türkiye and Syria, the modernization and expansion of border gates, and the rapid expansion of trade volume among the important steps.
Bolat said launching a transit corridor linking Türkiye and Syria with the Middle East and Gulf countries was also important, adding that the economic partnership between the two countries needed to be strengthened.
Reconstruction and investment on the agenda
Bolat said investment cooperation and partnership initiatives would be given priority in the coming period, adding that work would be carried out for Syria’s reconstruction and development. He said investments would be made in the energy sector and that significant progress would also be achieved in the services sector.
Bolat said they faced a major task ahead, adding that the consequences of 14 years of destruction needed to be addressed and wounds healed. He said Türkiye and the Turkish people were working for Syria’s unity, territorial integrity and prosperity. At the end of the meeting, Bolat listened to the demands and problems of business representatives from the two countries.
