Syrian economy minister hails Türkiye as 'natural partner'

Syria's Economy Minister Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar on Tuesday hailed Türkiye as Damascus's "natural partner" during an address at Anadolu's City Economies Summit in Gaziantep, saying the neighboring countries share a common destiny and must become a joint source of production. "Türkiye is our natural partner. We view the relation in this regard," Shaar said, adding that the two nations had signed and implemented a memorandum of understanding on technical training programs to develop human resources.

Banking reforms and trade barriers

Shaar noted that Damascus is drafting new regulations to support economic growth while reassessing laws governing trade, investment and industry, though he acknowledged that the effects of international sanctions remain palpable despite their recent lifting. The minister identified modernizing Syria's banking sector as a top priority, pointing out that millions of Syrians residing in Türkiye have grown accustomed to its advanced financial system, while the Syria-Türkiye Joint Commission continues working to remove obstacles facing investors on both sides.

Industrial sector resumes operations

The economy minister reported a significant revival in Syria's industrial base, with more than 15,000 factories having resumed operations in recent months alongside approximately 1,200 new production lines and hundreds more facilities under construction. Shaar highlighted the role of Turkish businesspeople in industrial investments — particularly in the Hama region — while cautioning that rebuilding the nation after 64 years of oppressive rule and devastating war cannot be achieved quickly, stressing that the government is managing the process carefully to achieve lasting results.

'Syria is ready' for Turkish capital

Calling on Turkish investors to take a more active role, Shaar declared that Syria is now prepared to absorb and support new capital, stating: "Syria is ready. Our country is your country too. Please come." Syria's Deputy Governor of Aleppo Mahmoud Shahadeh echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that accelerating transit procedures and opening border crossings remain key to facilitating movement between the two countries and strengthening the historical trade ties binding Aleppo and Gaziantep.