ANKARA

The 62nd Damascus International Fair will open new doors to Türkiye-Syria trade cooperation, as a key platform will review mutually beneficial trade areas while representing an opportunity to take a significant step in customs sector between the two countries.

Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat and a delegation of Turkish businesspeople will attend the fair, which will kick off on Wednesday, Bolat told Anadolu.

The event will contribute to the efforts for the Turkish business community to take significant steps into the Syrian market, while deepening relations between the two countries.   

Establishing stability between Türkiye, Syria

Bolat said that the event will help establish stability and peace, while contributing to the constructive dialogue between Türkiye and Syria.

The minister said that Türkiye’s participation to the event is a testament to the country’s support for Syria’s reconstruction and its efforts to strengthen trade and cultural ties between the two countries. “This fair, held after a long hiatus, is key in reviewing mutual cooperation opportunities,” he said.

Turkish representatives from food, iron and steel, paper products, furniture, and automotive sectors will participate in the fair. Bolat said the Trade Ministry provided financial support for the companies participating in the event, as well as organizing cultural activities like wood decoration and Turkish paper marbling called “ebru.”

Bolat highlighted that the event will contribute to the trade relations between the two countries with the visit of the delegation from the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM) to make high-level contacts with the newly established government in Syria.

“We’re taking steps to pave the way for mutual trade liberalization in the coming period with a ‘win-win’ approach,” he said.

Bolat mentioned that he had visited Damascus in April after Syrian Economy Minister Nidal Al Sha’ar visited Türkiye with a delegation at the beginning of August to sign many agreements between the two countries.

Bolat said that comprehensive talks with Al Sha’ar will be held at the event to demonstrate once again Türkiye’s intent in cooperation.

“We declared our commitment to taking our customs cooperation to a higher level, and with this declaration, we aim to form the legal basis for international cooperation in customs and consequently establish a joint customs committee and working groups in a mutual administrative assistance agreement,” he said.  

Syria’s reconstruction comes with huge demand for Turkish exporters

Bolat said that Türkiye’s trade with Syria broke a record at over $2.6 billion last year, while the bilateral trade volume exceeded $1.9 billion in the first seven months of 2025.

He noted that the majority of last year’s $2.18 billion worth of Turkish exports to Syria were processed agricultural products like sunflower oil, flour, and rice, as well as water, cakes, and biscuits.

Bolat highlighted that Turkish exports to Syria soared 53% in January-July this year to $1.8 billion.

He mentioned that the Syrian market demands durable consumer goods and furniture products, which Turkish exporters can provide.

“Syria may also obtain health equipment and medicine from Türkiye after the supply of these were disrupted due to the civil war,” he said. “We observed that Türkiye’s trade with Syria increased both in quantity and variety since the end of the civil war -- the lifting of export restrictions on Syria was an important step for our countries to meet the growing demand.”

“We will continue to mobilize our ministry within a framework of humanitarian responsibility and without opportunism to boost Türkiye’s exports to Syria and enable our countries to take a stronger position in the country’s reconstruction,” he added.

Bolat said that Türkiye aims to continue mutual visits and keep trade relations alive as a short-term priority, while attaching significance to the Joint Economic and Trade Commission signed with Syria.

“In the long term, we plan to establish a comprehensive economic partnership deal to cover trade in goods, services, public procurement, and investments, as we pave the way to harmonize the economies of the two countries by providing training and seminars to develop Syria’s capacity,” he said.

The 62nd Damascus International Fair will be held on Aug. 27-Sept. 5, with the coordination by the Turkish Trade Ministry and the organization of Southeastern Anatolia Exporters’ Association.