Tomorrow, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat will visit Syria to conduct commercial discussions with the heads of business associations. During his official trip to Damascus, Bolat aims to address trade, customs, transportation, investment, and energy topics between Turkey and Syria on April 16-17. The visit will involve business people, chamber, and association presidents. The agenda includes enhancing cooperation for Syria’s economic development, improving communication among economic actors of the two countries, fostering relationships, and coordinating inter-agency efforts for the reconstruction of a free Syria. Discussions during the visit will cover various subjects like trade, customs, transportation, investment, finance, banking, construction, and energy, among others. Bolat plans to engage in bilateral and delegation-level talks with his counterparts. He is scheduled to meet with Syrian Economy Minister Nidal Shaar, Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Yusr Berniyye, Syrian Transportation Minister Yarub Bedir, and Kuteybe Ahmed Bedevi, the Director of Syrian Ports Administration. – BILATERAL MEETINGS BY BOLAT Turkish business union leaders will convene with Syrian entrepreneurs during the visit to explore new business opportunities, and an Business Forum and Round Table Meetings have been organized. In the meeting with Syrian Economy Minister Shaar, the roadmap for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which will enhance economic and trade relations between the two countries, will be discussed. The meeting with Berniyye will cover contributions Turkey can make to strengthening Syria’s corporate infrastructure, collaboration in lifting sanctions, enhancing banking infrastructure, and topics related to Syria’s reconstruction. The dialogue with Transportation Minister Bedir will focus on ways to fortify transportation relations, strengthen logistic connections, and discuss partnerships in transportation projects that will contribute to regional development. The meeting with Kuteybe Ahmed Bedevi will assess areas for enhancing cooperation in the customs field concerning the improvement and modernization of border crossings between Turkey and Syria, as well as private sector expectations regarding customs duties. Bolat’s visit to Damascus will play a pivotal role in determining the dynamics of economic and trade relations between Turkey and Syria. INTENSIFIED TRADE DIPLOMACY Intense trade diplomacy with the new administration in Syria began after the Baath regime’s overthrow on December 8. As a result, the Ministry of Trade reopened the Yayladağı Border Gate on December 9, 2024, and handed over control of the customs administration on the Syrian side to the new Syrian interim government starting January 1. Deputy Trade Minister Mustafa Tuzcu and his delegation visited Damascus on January 23 to conduct various discussions with Syrian counterparts, leading to reduced taxes on some products. On February 8, restrictions on customs services in trade between Turkey and Syria dating back to the previous regime were eliminated. Lastly, Turkey increased the staff of the Damascus Trade Office and Aleppo Commercial Attache to four, appointing Ministry representatives.