Serhat Tutak, Doğukan Gürel, Yılmaz Öztürk

July 22, 2026 • Updated: July 22, 2026

Ankara / Anadolu

Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, head of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, stated that Turkey is one of the most important trade partners for Syria, and that whenever Turkey and Syria achieve common gains, it will bring benefit and prosperity to the entire region.

This came in a speech during a meeting titled 'Free Trade and Industrial Zones in Syria and Investment Environment' in the capital Ankara, attended by the head of the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports in Syria, Qutaiba Ahmad Badawi, and Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said: 'We are certain that trade is the strongest guarantee for achieving peace, and whenever Turkey and Syria achieve common gains, it will bring benefit and prosperity to our entire region.'

He explained that they continue close contact and ongoing cooperation with the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Syria in Damascus, Aleppo, and Idlib.

He mentioned that Syria has taken significant steps towards reintegrating into the international economy.

He pointed out that Turkey shares a 911-kilometer land border with Syria and that Turkey is considered one of the most important trade partners for Syria.

He noted that more than 30,000 Syrian companies operating in Turkey form a natural bridge between the economies of the two countries, and that their owners have extensive knowledge of both the Turkish and Syrian markets.