DEİK delegation in Beirut explores Turkish firms’ role in rebuilding Lebanon

The Lebanese-Turkish Business Council held its first meeting in two years in Beirut with the participation of a delegation from Türkiye’s Foreign Economic Relations Board. The meeting addressed increasing trade, reviving the free trade agreement and Lebanon’s participation in the Hejaz Railway.

A delegation from Türkiye’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) discussed in Beirut on Wednesday opportunities for Turkish companies to participate in Lebanon’s reconstruction, along with boosting trade and reviving regional transport projects, Anadolu Agency reported.

The Lebanese side was represented at the meetings by Wajih al-Bizri, chairman of the Lebanese-Turkish Business Council and president of the International Chamber of Commerce in Lebanon. The Turkish side was represented by Mehmet Faisal Vural, chairman of the Türkiye-Lebanon Business Council at DEİK. Businesspeople representing the contracting and construction, food trading and steel sectors also took part.

“Turkish companies are qualified”

Al-Bizri told Anadolu Agency that Turkish companies are among those qualified to participate in Lebanon’s reconstruction following the latest war, “whether in projects to build prefabricated homes or in traditional construction work.” He added that Lebanese companies could form partnerships with their Turkish counterparts to carry out projects in Lebanon or in Arab and African countries where Lebanese businesspeople are active.

Al-Bizri explained that the council was established about 20 years ago and held annual meetings alternately in Beirut and Istanbul. Wednesday’s meeting was the first after a two-year interruption caused by the war and economic conditions. He also disclosed that work was under way to reactivate the free trade agreement between the two countries, which has been suspended, with the support of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Economy Minister Amer al-Bsat.

قاطرة قديمة في محطة رياق للسكك الحديدية في سهل البقاع اللبناني

Trade targeted to reach $2.5 billion

Vural said the volume of trade between the two countries reached about $1.3 billion in 2025. He expressed his belief that it could rise to more than $2 billion, and possibly $2.5 billion, in the short term if production and cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries expanded.

He said the talks also addressed reviving the “Mashreq Pact,” signed in 2011 by Türkiye, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. He noted that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun raised the issue during his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on July 30. The Turkish delegation is scheduled to meet Lebanese Economy Minister Amer al-Bsat on Thursday.

محطة الحجاز التاريخية للسكك الحديدية في دمشق

Could Lebanon join the Hejaz Railway?

Vural considered the revival of the Hejaz Railway, which starts in Türkiye and passes through Syria and Lebanon before reaching Saudi Arabia, one of the key projects capable of strengthening trade integration in the region, citing a protocol signed between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. The two countries signed memorandums of understanding on the project in June 2026 to transport goods, oil and passengers.

Al-Bizri said the council hoped the line would include Lebanon and that he had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The historic line dates back to the reign of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II. It was built between 1900 and 1908 to connect Damascus with Medina over a distance of 1,322 kilometers.

Photos: Anadolu Agency, Wikimedia Commons

DEİK delegation in Beirut explores Turkish firms’ role in rebuilding Lebanon