Ankara, SANA-A high-level Syrian economic delegation led by Minister of Economy and Industry Dr. Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar visited Ankara from August 4 to 7.

Understandings That Lay the Groundwork for a Sustainable Partnership

The visit explored cooperation opportunities to support Syria’s reconstruction process and culminated in the signing of 10 memoranda of understanding and the announcement of the establishment of the Syrian-Turkish Business Council. This aims to foster collaboration between institutions in both countries and strengthen direct communication channels between their private sectors, positively impacting both Syrian and Turkish peoples.

The agreements also included support for joint investment projects and the exchange of expertise in administrative, industrial development, and modern technology.

Strengthening Cooperation with Economic Associations

The Syrian economic delegation’s visit included a meeting with representatives of the Turkish Businessmen’s Association “Musiad,” which includes around 50,000 entrepreneurs with leading investments in Turkey and various countries worldwide.

The meeting discussed ways to enhance cooperation in industry and trade, open new channels for economic exchange, and the association expressed full readiness to support development projects in Syria, considering joint cooperation a cornerstone for achieving stability and growth in the region.

The delegation also visited the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association “ASKON,” where discussions focused on investment opportunities in manufacturing industries and organizing joint exhibitions and economic events bringing together businesspeople from both countries.

Cooperation in Digital Manufacturing

Th delegation visited the “MEXT” Technology Center, reviewed the latest digital manufacturing systems, and discussed the possibility of transferring these technologies to the Syrian market to enhance production capacity and improve the competitiveness of national products.

The Syrian Community: A Partner in Reconstruction

The visit concluded with a broad meeting with members of the Syrian community in Istanbul as part of the “Syria Welcomes the World” conference, with participation from the Syrian-Turkish Business Council. The meeting explored mechanisms to link the expertise and capabilities of expatriates to national development projects, recognizing them as key partners in the reconstruction journey.

A Milestone in Syrian–Turkish Relations

Minister al-Shaar described the visit as a significant milestone in the history of Syrian–Turkish relations, which reflects deep geographical and historical ties. He noted that during the years of the Syrian revolution, Turkey was not just a neighboring country but a second home to millions of Syrian refugees and a strategic partner indispensable to Syria’s path of reconstruction and production.

For his part, Turkish Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat highlighted the rapid development of relations between the two countries, noting that trade volume reached 1.9 billion lira over seven months.

MHD Ibrahim