Ala al-Ali, president of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce, called on the Turkish business community to participate in joint investment and production projects in Syria, saying economic relations between the two countries should not remain limited to trade volume.
Speaking at the Syria-Türkiye Economic Forum in Damascus, Ali said economic ties between the two countries should be taken to a new stage. He said the strength of the Turkish private sector in industry, construction and investment, combined with the geographical and economic proximity of the two countries, offered significant opportunities for partnerships.
Sectors seeking investment in Syria
Ali said Syria needed comprehensive investments, listing industry, energy, infrastructure, real estate, tourism, agriculture and services among the leading sectors. He said the Turkish business community could make a significant contribution to these sectors.
“We do not want Syria to be only a market for you; we want it to be a shared market,” Ali said, adding that the economic potential of the two countries should be harnessed through investment, production and joint projects.
Ali said they aimed to turn Syria into a field for partnerships, investment and production for Turkish companies.
$10 billion trade target
Ruad Ramadan, director general of the Syrian Investment Authority, also announced a target of increasing trade between the two countries from approximately $3.7 billion to $10 billion.
Ramadan said achieving the target would require developing trade, encouraging investments and joint projects, and strengthening industrial cooperation. He also listed increasing direct communication between companies and businesspeople in the two countries as part of these efforts.
Ramadan said Syria had extensive investment opportunities, adding that Türkiye’s experience in industry, technology, trade and logistics services created opportunities for partnerships to develop the Syrian economy and strengthen its production capacity.
Ramadan expressed hope that the forum would serve as a practical step toward joint projects and investments, and stressed that the private sector should play a greater role in advancing economic relations between the two countries.
The Turkish delegation’s program in Damascus
The Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce said it was ready to develop economic relations with its partners in Türkiye on the basis of trust and mutual interests. The federation aims to establish economic partnerships that will draw on the opportunities available in both countries.
Türkiye’s Trade Minister Ömer Bolat is visiting Syria with a delegation of Turkish businesspeople. The program, coordinated by the Ministry of Trade and organized by the Turkish Exporters Assembly, will include a roundtable meeting with Turkish and Syrian businesspeople.
Bolat is also scheduled to attend the opening of the Damascus International Fair and visit the stands at the fair.
Damascus International Fair to begin on August 26
Preparations are under way for the 63rd Damascus International Fair at the fairgrounds in Damascus, with 1,000 organizations from approximately 60 countries expected to participate. The fair is scheduled to begin on August 26.
The Damascus International Fair, regarded as one of Syria’s major economic events, aims to strengthen trade and investment ties between local and international companies.
