Anadolu City Economies Summit gathers Türkiye, Syria business leaders in Gaziantep

The Anadolu City Economies Summit Gaziantep-Aleppo began on Tuesday in Türkiye’s southeastern Gaziantep province, under the leadership of Anadolu. The event was coordinated by the Gaziantep Governor’s Office, hosted by the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, and supported by Kalyon Construction and SANKO Holding. Opening speeches were delivered by Gaziantep Governor Kemal Ceber, Gaziantep Metropolitan Mayor Fatma Sahin, Aleppo Deputy Governor Mahmut Sahade, and Anadolu CEO Serdar Karagoz. The summit focused on a large-scale intermediate production ecosystem planned for the border region and related investment opportunities.

Trade and economic cooperation

A session titled “New Horizons in Trade for Türkiye and Syria” was moderated by Anadolu Economy and Finance News Department Director Serhat Akkan, with Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat and Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar as speakers. They evaluated cooperation opportunities between the two economies. Türkiye’s Ambassador to Damascus Nuh Yilmaz attended a special session addressing revived trade, logistics, and production ties, along with messages on regional economic integration.

Focus on reconstruction

Other sessions covered “Opportunities and Possibilities in the New Era” and “A New Era in Production, Export, and Customs,” featuring chamber presidents from Gaziantep and Aleppo as well as customs officials. The summit aimed to contribute to Syria’s reconstruction through a Gaziantep-centered synergy, establishing a sustainable, high-value-added structure for Türkiye-Syria trade. For Türkiye, rebuilding ties with Syria is strategically important for economic recovery, especially as the country faces pressure from the Iran war and Hormuz closure.