Türkiye, Syria seal economic integration roadmap for $10B trade
Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat announced a comprehensive economic integration protocol with Syria, targeting bilateral trade to reach $10 billion from last year’s $3.7 billion. The first JETCO meeting in Istanbul also agreed on cooperation in textiles, agriculture, and machinery. A joint business forum and an industrial zone in Aleppo are planned. Türkiye prioritizes regional stability and reconstruction through multiple trade alternatives.
Türkiye and Syria have taken a historic step toward economic reintegration, signing a protocol that Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat called a “comprehensive roadmap” for regional development and reconstruction. The agreement came during the first term meeting of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) held Tuesday in Istanbul. Bolat emphasized that the session, building on the initial JETCO signed in Ankara on August 5, 2025, was completed successfully on a foundation of mutual trust, marking a turning point in bilateral economic relations.
Trade targets and strategic sectors
Bolat stated that the two nations confirmed their commitment to achieving a balanced and sustainable trade volume. “We discussed all kinds of solutions and mechanisms to bring our bilateral trade, which reached $3.7 billion last year, to $5 billion first and then to the $10 billion target,” he said. The ministers agreed to deepen cooperation in strategic sectors including textiles, agriculture, food, and machinery, while also sharing regulatory information to ensure predictability in agricultural trade. A Türkiye-Syria Business and Investment Forum will be held alongside the meeting to connect leading companies and investors from both countries.
Syrian minister sees expansion opportunity
Syrian Economy and Industry Minister Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar noted that the two countries have special relations and are working on a solid foundation. “Rather than economic cooperation, there is of course an opportunity for expansion, and we have set out on this path,” he said. Al-Shaar confirmed that work continues on an industrial zone planned for Aleppo, which he said would have a direct positive impact on other projects and the overall business environment. Turkish and Syrian industrialists are actively involved in the initiative.
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Additional agreements and Türkiye’s regional vision
Bolat also touched upon recent regional conflicts, stressing the importance of ensuring uninterrupted foreign trade through multiple alternative routes. During the JETCO meeting, the two countries signed a separate cooperation agreement covering product safety, inspection, technical regulations, standardization, conformity, and metrology. For Türkiye, which has consistently supported Syria’s reconstruction and stability, these deals reinforce Ankara’s role as a key economic partner in the Levant. By targeting $10 billion in bilateral trade, Türkiye aims to strengthen supply chains and reduce dependency on volatile global markets, while also offering Syrian businesses a gateway to European and Asian markets.
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