The Türkiye-Syria Economic Cooperation Summit, organized in Gaziantep in cooperation with the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) and the International Business Forum (IBF), brought together the leading figures of the business world. At the event, more than 900 Turkish business people and more than 500 Syrian business people evaluated opportunities for joint economic development and cooperation.
The opening speeches of the summit were delivered by the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, the Honourable Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, Governor of Gaziantep Kemal Çeber, IBF President Erol Yarar, MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Aleppo Hakan Cengiz, Gaziantep Metropolitan Mayor Fatma Şahin, Şahinbey Mayor Mehmet Tahmazoğlu and the President of the Businessmen Association for Syria Yamen El-Shami.
Türkiye-Syria Economic Cooperation is Growing Stronger
In his speech at the summit, Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat said that they had come together to discuss the reconstruction of free Syria's industrial and commercial infrastructure in the new period. Emphasizing that the summit is of historic importance, Bolat stated that Türkiye and Syria would work hand in hand. Underlining that Türkiye has strong economic, historical and cultural ties with Syria, Bolat said that intensive work is being carried out to open the border gates to trade and to strengthen cooperation.
Bolat said: "Military and political victories must be crowned with economic victories. We identified the matters that could be dealt with at all customs gates, both in terms of managing the returns and in terms of reviving trade, and we immediately set to work." He also announced that customs duty reductions of up to 70 percent had been made on 269 products and that talks had been launched to bring the comprehensive economic partnership agreement between Türkiye and Syria back into force.
MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı: "We Are Here for Free Syria to Get Back on Its Feet"
MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı said: "We held this summit so that free Syria may get back on its feet, may begin its new journey with strong steps and may look to the future with hope. With this summit, Türkiye's strategies, activities, national and international partnerships and investment cooperation regarding the development process of free Syria will be addressed in detail."
Stating that as MÜSİAD they contribute to building the country's future together with the most competent figures of the business world, Asmalı said: "Every difficulty is overcome with determination, faith and togetherness. As hopes come together they will multiply, and our neighbour Syria will be rebuilt in peace and prosperity."
Asmalı also stated that MÜSİAD has a strong influence not only within Türkiye but also in the international arena. "MÜSİAD, which began its journey from Anatolia, has today spread all over the world and, with an organizational structure penetrating almost all Muslim geographies, has taken on an important mission to make the understanding of the Medina Market prevail throughout the Islamic world," he said. He emphasized that with its more than 14,000 members and its employment power of close to 2 million, MÜSİAD will continue to contribute to both economic and social development processes.
IBF President Erol Yarar: "Syria Will Be Remembered for Economic Cooperation"
International Business Forum (IBF) President Erol Yarar, for his part, said: "Today is a milestone. From now on Syria will no longer be remembered for destitution, blood and migration. It will be remembered together with business people engaged in economic cooperation, with brotherly nations and with two integrated states."
Yarar also emphasized that the summit is not merely an economic platform but at the same time a critical step taken for stability and prosperity in the region. "Our summit has a character that will revive our economy, our industry, trade and our world of finance by reinforcing the bonds of friendship and brotherhood with Syrian business people that have continued throughout history. Together with our business world representatives, we are here to shape the economic future of Syria," he said.
B2B Meetings and Commercial Connections
The summit continued with bilateral business meetings (B2B) and stand visits organized in order to establish direct connections among business world representatives. The event, which offered an important platform for the establishment of new commercial partnerships between Turkish and Syrian business people, aimed to contribute to achieving regional economic stability.
Within the scope of the B2B meetings, 107 companies opened tables and seized the opportunity to develop direct commercial cooperation. Thanks to these meetings, important commercial agreements were concluded between companies and business world representatives established new business connections, paving the way for mutual investments.
