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Türkiye is advancing major regional transport and infrastructure projects, with Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announcing new cross-border initiatives with Syria and Jordan, alongside progress on the Zengezur Corridor and plans to rebuild key Syrian railways and airports.
The minister recalled that Turkish companies had secured the tender to renovate and expand Damascus Airport, adding that “a similar process is underway for Aleppo.”
He also noted that work had begun on a new arrangement for truck crossings with Syria and announced that Türkiye, Syria, and Jordan will hold a trilateral transport meeting this fall.
Uraloglu said the Zengezur Corridor will play a strategic role in regional trade, supporting the Middle Corridor and offering faster rail transport compared to sea routes. He projected ₺147.6 billion in revenue over 30 years, including:
The project will also enable 15 million tons of annual cargo capacity. Uraloglu added that 12 organized industrial zones have already been established along the Izmir–Istanbul Highway, creating opportunities in logistics, industrialization, and employment.
Uraloglu said preparations are underway to allow trucks to cross the Syrian border without the need for loading and unloading. “We have reached an agreement; Syria must complete the necessary applications and obtain approval from our side,” he noted, adding that the process has not yet begun.
He explained that while many vehicles in Syria are non-standard and poorly maintained, they will initially be allowed to move only as far as the first checkpoint after customs. In contrast, standard vehicles will be permitted to continue into third countries.
Turkish trucks, he added, will also be able to cross into Syria and on to Jordan. To make the system more professional, Uraloglu announced that ministers from Jordan, Syria, and Türkiye will convene for a trilateral meeting in the fall.
Minister Uraloglu shared updates on Türkiye’s land and rail projects in Syria, noting that numerous works have already been completed and discussions with Syrian officials are ongoing for future projects. He said the first priority is rebuilding the destroyed Gaziantep–Aleppo railway line, which requires $120 million in financing, and that Türkiye and Syria are working together to secure support from international institutions.
Uraloglu added that repairs to a section of the Hijaz Railway would need only limited funding and would be carried out directly by Türkiye. He also recalled that Turkish companies won the tender for renovating and expanding Damascus Airport, stressing that “a similar process is underway in Aleppo,” and underlined Syria’s pressing need for infrastructure investments, with financing as the key issue to resolve.
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