Newsletters
Ibrahim Fuat Ozcorekci, Chairman of the Türkiye-Syria Business Council at the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), stated that the Turkish business community is highly enthusiastic about investment opportunities in Syria.
"My phone won’t stop ringing. Questions like ‘When should we go, which routes are safe, and how secure is trade?’ are flooding in,” he shared.
In an interview with pro-government hurriyet.com.tr, Ozcorekci explained that investment opportunities in the region have gained significant attention following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime on Dec. 8. Describing the intense demand, he remarked: "Türkiye is Syria’s natural partner. There is a significant Syrian population that has been living here for 14 years. An entire generation has grown up alongside us, which is a notable advantage of Türkiye's soft power.”
1 min read
Ozcorekci highlighted that trade between Türkiye and Syria, which stood at $250 million when the first Syrian refugee convoy arrived in 2011, has now reached $2 billion. He attributed this growth to Türkiye’s logistical advantages and collaboration potential.
"There are over 15,000 businesses owned by Syrians in Türkiye, predominantly in the food, textile, and machinery sectors. A large, Turkish-speaking Syrian population has emerged here. We know them, and they know us. From a logistics perspective, Türkiye has no better alternative in the region,” he explained.
Drawing attention to the existing activities of Turkish businesses in regions like Zeytin Dali (Olive Branch), Ozcorekci said: "Sectors like food, plastics, iron and steel, and construction have already been active there. Over the past three years, small industrial zones have started to emerge in border areas."
Ozcorekci stressed the importance of establishing a logistical corridor for the new Syria, emphasizing the reopening of the truck corridor to Gulf countries. “Investors are extremely excited, but it’s crucial to proceed cautiously. We need to observe the region's economic recovery. There are talks of elections in March, so it’s wise to avoid rushing,” he said.
He also underlined Türkiye’s strategic advantage of being among the first countries, alongside Qatar, to open embassies in Syria.
“People from all sectors, from telecommunications to food, are reaching out to DEIK for guidance. Even ordinary Syrian citizens approach me with questions, eager to return. An entire generation grew up seeing Türkiye, making this a matter of soft power. Türkiye must leverage this strength effectively on the ground.”
Highlighting the current investment momentum, Ozcorekci outlined several developments:
Ozcorekci predicted that by 2025, border cities such as Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis and Sanliurfa could transform into logistical hubs for the region.
“We might even see international firms previously absent from the area opening offices in places like Sanliurfa,” he concluded.
10 min read
