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Syria’s Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar, will pay an official visit to Türkiye on Tuesday at the invitation of Trade Minister Omer Bolat, as both countries aim to reset economic ties and discuss cooperation in Syria’s post-war reconstruction.
According to information obtained from Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade, Minister al-Shaar and his delegation will remain in Türkiye until August 7. The visit will address bilateral trade, customs integration, investment opportunities, and alternative financing models for rebuilding Syria.
The visit is seen as a “historic step” toward institutionalizing relations, with both governments expected to lay the groundwork for future cooperation. Business representatives will also participate.
Discussions in Ankara will focus on boosting trade, enhancing customs and logistics ties, encouraging investments, and partnering in infrastructure projects essential to Syria’s recovery.
A new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), tailored to Syria’s conditions and the region’s needs, is also on the agenda.
Trade Ministers Bolat and al-Shaar are expected to sign a landmark agreement establishing the Türkiye-Syria Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETC), a platform to guide bilateral economic collaboration across sectors.
The committee aims to deepen integration and facilitate Syria’s economic recovery and re-engagement with regional markets.
On day one, a Roundtable Meeting will be held at the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), co-chaired by the two ministers. Representatives from chambers of commerce and industry in Damascus, Aleppo, Latakia, and Hama will outline their vision for the new era.
Minister al-Shaar is also scheduled to meet with Türkiye’s Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacir. The ministers will visit ASO’s 1st Organized Industrial Zone in Ankara to examine industrial clustering models and Türkiye’s manufacturing infrastructure.
On the second day, the Syrian delegation will hold talks in Istanbul. A private sector roundtable will be organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) to explore Syria’s reconstruction, sectoral engagement, and alternative financing options.
The visit will also include the signing of the Founding Protocol of the Türkiye-Syria Business Council under DEIK. The council will enhance coordination between business groups and strengthen bilateral project development.
The delegation will visit the MEXT Technology Center Digital Factory and Gebze Organized Industrial Zone, with a focus on R&D, automation, and Türkiye’s digital industry expertise.
Bilateral trade reached $2.6 billion in 2023. Turkish contractors have so far undertaken 26 projects in Syria worth a total of $794 million.
Minister al-Shaar’s visit is expected to signal a new phase in Türkiye-Syria relations, focusing on "win-win" economic cooperation, institutional dialogue, and long-term regional development.
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