The political transformation in Syria has provided a rare opportunity to establish a shared economic framework and has initiated a new phase of economic openness between Turkey and Syria.
On June 24, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Kahramanmaras province of southern Turkey organized the “Kahramanmaras-Syria Economic Cooperation and Regional Investment Summit,” which saw extensive participation from representatives of chambers of commerce (COC) and industry from several Syrian cities, including Damascus, Aleppo, and Idlib.
Representatives from various Syrian COCs discussed ways to enhance regional partnerships and expand areas of economic cooperation with their Turkish counterparts.
Mustafa Polunto, the head of the Kahramanmaras COC, emphasized the importance of economic cooperation with Syria in his speech. Saying, “We are making efforts to advance our cities materially and economically, and the deeply rooted culture of industry in Kahramanmaras, along with the will to work and its trade, will be a fundamental pillar in our partnership with Syria.”
For his part, Muhammad Saed Sheikh al-Kar, the head of the Aleppo COC, pointed out the work being done to create a system based on establishing good relations and solidarity with neighboring countries to develop trade, economy, and industry in Syria.
Kar expressed a desire to bring together businessmen from Kahramanmaras and Syria to enhance trade between the two countries, stating, “We aim to provide private investments in the textile sector by establishing joint companies between Kahramanmaras and Aleppo. We also wish to receive support regarding training courses that would improve the knowledge and skills of workers in the industry.”
“As two sister countries,” he added, “we want to elevate the agreements and partnerships we have established in the field of export and import to greater levels.”
June 12, the Istanbul COC sent two members of its board to Syria to conduct a field study regarding investment opportunities there. They met with the Turkish ambassador in Syria, the Damascus COC, and Syrian industrialists.
At that time, Anadolu Agency quoted Istanbul COC head, Sekib Avdagic as saying, “A rapid integration can be achieved between Turkey and the Syrian businessmen who lived in Turkey and have now returned to Syria. We can benefit from the investment advantages of our neighbor Syria alongside Turkey’s technological development to quickly gain significant investment benefits.”
This summit marks a significant step towards revitalizing economic ties between Turkey and Syria while paving the way for a more stable and prosperous future for both countries.
