Türkiye’s Trade Ministry to visit Syria to ‘help recover lost years’

Trade Minister Omer Bolat announced that the Trade Ministry will soon conduct its first ministerial-level visit to Syria in years, saying “Partnerships in mutually beneficial projects will enhance stability in our region and help recover the lost years.”

Expressing a desire to establish a new era in relations with Syria, Bolat said, “Syria holds significant importance for Türkiye as a gateway to the Middle East, the Gulf, and international waters, as well as the southern region. I have already held a phone conversation with my Syrian counterpart, the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, and we will soon visit Syria.”

The statement was made during the sixth Commercial Diplomacy Awards Ceremony of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), held at a hotel in Istanbul’s Bakirkoy district on Friday. The event was attended by Trade Minister Omer Bolat, Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Isikhan, and representatives of the business community. Minister Bolat received the “Honor Award for Commercial Diplomacy” during the ceremony.

In his speech, Minister Bolat marked DEIK’s 40th anniversary, acknowledging the challenges faced globally and domestically in the past year, describing it as a difficult period shaped by post-pandemic conflicts, ongoing regional wars and the aftermath of two devastating earthquakes.

“We have focused on rapidly addressing the earthquake’s damage and have made significant progress in this regard. Despite these challenges, we concluded the year as one of balance and stability, making great efforts to manage economic indicators and the broader economy,” Bolat stated.

‘We will soon visit Syria’

Minister Bolat underlined the beginning of a new chapter with Syria. “In this new phase, our trade and investment relations with Syria will deepen and develop swiftly,” he said.

Bolat emphasized that Türkiye, with its strong public and private sectors, will play a critical role in Syria’s reconstruction and normalization efforts. He added that these efforts are being conducted systematically, with a calm and focused approach.

Bolat also addressed Türkiye’s stance on humanitarian aid and trade relations with Israel. He recalled that on May 2, 2024, Türkiye suspended all import and export transactions with Israel, citing the country’s refusal to agree to a cease-fire, continued violence and restrictions on humanitarian aid deliveries.

“All international efforts to secure a permanent cease-fire have been rejected by Israel so far,” Bolat said. “Since the first day of Oct. 7, 2023, Türkiye has delivered the most humanitarian aid, including food, health care, and sanitation supplies, to our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Gaza through indirect channels,” Bolat remarked.

Negotiations are still ongoing for new Free Trade Agreements

Minister Bolat highlighted their commitment to supporting exporters and industries at every stage of exports. He noted that negotiations to expand the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United Kingdom to include the services sector are ongoing. Bolat stated:

• “We have completed two rounds of negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council, which we resumed after 15 years.
• Fifteen days ago, we were in North Macedonia and reached an agreement in negotiations on agricultural products under the FTA.
• While we signed a preferential trade agreement with the Maldives, we expanded our preferential trade agreement with Azerbaijan, and negotiations for a preferential trade agreement with Uzbekistan are ongoing.

• Currently, FTAs are in effect with 23 countries, and preferential trade agreements are active with six countries.
• We held the first program of 2025 in Bangladesh on Thursday and next Tuesday, we will have a JETCO forum with Slovenia in Ankara.
• On Wednesday, we will have another JETCO forum with the Netherlands in Istanbul in collaboration with DEIK.
• JETCO meetings and reconstruction discussions are also planned soon as part of visits to Syria and Ukraine.”