Turkey and Syria signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in international road transport, allowing the direct transport of goods across the border crossings between the two sides without any transshipment.
The Syrian general Authority for Land and Maritime Ports announced June 28, the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to reactivate cooperation in the field of international road transport for passengers and goods, aimed at facilitating transit movement and truck crossings between the two countries.
Reviving Regional Trade Routes
In a comment reflecting the importance of this step, Mazen Alloush, Director of Public Relations at the general Authority for Land and Maritime Ports, stated that “the agreement opens new horizons for the movement of goods and merchandise and revitalizes the arteries of regional trade that have been stagnant for many years.” He explained that this cooperation represents a gateway to a new phase of exchange that serves the interests of the peoples of both countries and the entire region.
“A Blessing for Us All”
The announcement of this step came in a statement by Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu to Anadolu Agency. Uraloglu stated via his account on X: “At the global Transport Connectivity Forum in Istanbul, we held a signing ceremony for an agreement between Turkey and Syria regarding cooperation in international road transport. This is a blessing for us all.”
Uraloglu clarified that the Turkish and Syrian delegations agreed to reactivate halted road transport operations between the two sides under the recently signed memorandum, which comes within the framework of the international road transport agreement signed between the two countries in 2004.
The minister noted that the agreement abolishes the system of transshipping goods at border crossings, allowing for direct passage of goods from Turkey to countries such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and other Gulf States.
Uraloglu emphasized that resuming road transport between Turkey and Syria not only affects bilateral trade but also enhances both countries’ positions in the regional trade network, especially within the “Middle Corridor” connecting Europe and Asia, which is considered a strategic alternative to the northern corridor through Russia.
It is worth noting that this agreement is part of ongoing efforts by the general Authority for Land and Maritime Ports to reactivate the regional and international transport system and enhance Syria’s position as a vital trade corridor connecting Asia and Europe through its network of vital crossings and ports.
