Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

In his speech here, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said that Syria’s most difficult period is behind it and stability has started to prevail again.

Stating that the conditions for mutual trade and investments have started to improve, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that transportation opportunities to Syria have started to increase and diversify.

Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that as the business world, they fully support the approach that emphasizes the territorial integrity of Syria and used the following statements:

“We believe that developing the private sector is key to Syria’s economic development. Our experience in Türkiye requires a strong chamber system for the development of the private sector. We are ready to support efforts to rebuild or develop the chamber system in Syria. It is important for political stability that the economic recovery in Syria starts as soon as possible, and political stability facilitates the provision of the resources needed for the reconstruction process.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that Syrian companies in Türkiye are engaged in light industry such as clothing, food, textile and furniture manufacturing.

Stating that Syrian company owners want to extend their supply chains towards their country, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Türkiye-Syria trade decreased from 2.5 billion dollars to 486 million dollars during the civil war. We are happy that Syria’s biggest trade partner as of 2024 will be Türkiye. Turkish companies are very enthusiastic about doing business in Syria, it is important to establish the necessary investment and business infrastructure and to ensure security. Here, we need to look at Türkiye’s experience in the industrialization process.”

- “We want to bring the OIZ experience to Syria”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that 2.7 million people are employed in nearly 400 OIZs operating across Türkiye.

Pointing out that Türkiye is an industrial country thanks to the OIZ model, Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “We want to carry this experience to Syria. It is possible to establish industrial zones in Syria in a short period of time with security and completed infrastructure. We are ready to provide all kinds of support, including the legal infrastructure and legislative work necessary for the establishment of industrial zones in Syria. On the other hand, considering the perspective of the development of trade between our countries, I think that the current Cilvegözü Border Gate will be insufficient in a short time. We should definitely put new border gates on our agenda.”

- Trade Minister Bolat

Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat stated that Syria has the power to develop again thanks to the industriousness and productivity of its people and said that they will soon feel the impact of this spirit even more strongly in many areas from industry to agriculture, from manufacturing to the service sector.

Emphasizing that Türkiye is ready to make the strongest contributions to this process of recovery, reconstruction and production, Bolat said that in this context, they believe that Turkish companies will lead the way in Syria with their competence and experience in manufacturing, infrastructure, banking and construction.

In this context, Bolat pointed out that the productive contacts made by the TOBB delegation that visited Syria last month were extremely important and made the following assessment: “These mutual visits and the agreements to be made will be instrumental for our country to develop strong trade and investment relations on the basis of mutual benefit and will be a very important step in strengthening the institutional infrastructure of the chambers of commerce and industry.”

Bolat also drew attention to the importance of the step taken last week between the two countries in the field of energy, adding that the Türkiye-Syria Natural Gas Pipeline, which has a daily gas transportation capacity of 6 million cubic meters, will meet the electricity needs of 5 million households, and that they believe that they will develop cooperation that will set a precedent for the whole world with joint energy and power plant projects to be realized in the future.

- Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Shaar

Syria’s Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal Shaar stated that they will continue their relations with Türkiye based on mutual respect and mutual honor, and that fate demands it: “No state will be able to do more than what Türkiye and Syria have done for each other. We must realize this for the next generations. There should be partnership in everything. We should extend to cultural, social, economic, industrial and production fields. Türkiye’s experience is a miracle for us.”

Shaar emphasized that although the achievements of different countries are mentioned, Türkiye’s achievements are much more, “Türkiye has become one of the largest economies in the world in 20 years and this is not easy.”

Noting that his country really sees Türkiye as an example, Shaar expressed that they would like to become partners.

Shaar said that they will start with small and medium-sized companies and move on to large projects, adding, “We trust the Turkish economy and Turkish business people. We especially trust their experience in the field of investment.”

Pointing out that the two countries have a common border and that this should be utilized, Shaar underlined that Syria is currently preparing for Turkish investors.

Shaar said that they hope that Türkiye will establish factories in Syria and export industrial products through Syria, adding that some of the products needed for production are already available.

Shaar stressed that the Turkish side will undoubtedly be a real driving force for investments, adding that they will visit organized industrial zones in Türkiye and benefit from their experiences and successful examples.

- Isam al-Grivati, President of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce

Isam al-Grivati, President of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that trade has always been an important path to friendship, adding that Syria and Türkiye have historical, geographical, religious and many other ties.

Grivati said that today’s meeting could be a turning point in the economic relations between Syria and Türkiye, adding that the two countries are not only connected by borders and neighborhood relations, but also by an economic transition.

Noting that the two countries are about to enter a new phase with mutual interests and common strategic economic policies, Grivati said that after long and difficult years, they support every step to improve bilateral cooperation.

(A.A.)