Syria and Türkiye discussed on Wednesday ways to enhance cooperation in trade, customs, border crossings, transport, transit and investment, with a focus on developing crossings and facilitating the movement of goods and trucks.  The discussions took place during a meeting between Head of the General Authority for Border Crossings and Customs Qutaiba Badawi and Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, who was accompanied by a high-level official and economic delegation including government officials and representatives of leading Turkish chambers of commerce and industry.  The two sides reviewed projects to expand and develop joint border crossings, particularly the Bab al-Hawa–Cilvegözü crossing, plans to establish dedicated areas and lanes for transit trucks, and ongoing technical and construction work ahead of the reopening of the Qamishli–Nusaybin crossing.  They stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of these projects to increase the capacity of crossings, reduce congestion and improve services provided to travelers and transport operators.  The talks also addressed concerns raised by the business communities of both countries regarding customs fees, mechanisms to move from cargo unloading and reloading at borders to direct truck crossings, as well as the development of temporary admission and processing-for-re-export systems and the use of free zone capabilities. The Syrian and Turkish sides agreed to continue technical and institutional coordination, simplify procedures for carriers and investors, and encourage joint industrial and logistics projects that strengthen economic integration between the two countries.  Badawi highlighted the rapid growth in passenger and goods movement through joint crossings, noting around five million passenger movements since Dec. 8, 2024, the voluntary return of nearly 780,000 Syrians, and the crossing of about 600,000 trucks.  He said the number of transit trucks increased from around 3,500 in 2025 to more than 30,000 during the first seven months of 2026, stressing the importance of cooperation with the Turkish side in achieving these results.  For his part, Bolat praised the developments taking place in Syria and the efforts to reorganize customs operations and develop crossings and ports. He said bilateral trade between Syria and Türkiye increased by 42 percent over the past year, stressing the importance of Syria’s geographic position in connecting Türkiye with Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Gulf Arab states.  Bolat said both sides should work on developing land corridors and transforming them into an integrated regional network supporting transport, trade and investment.  In April, during the “Türkiye-Syria Business and Investment Forum,” Bolat said transit trade had become possible through Syria to the wider Middle East and Gulf Arab countries.  (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Syrian Arab News Agency