Türkiye–Syria Trade Set to Hit $5 Billion, Says MÜSİAD Gaziantep Chair

The Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD) Gaziantep branch hosted the “Syria Briefing Panel” to strengthen commercial ties and outline new cooperation opportunities between Türkiye and Syria. The event brought together over 200 business leaders, including representatives from both countries’ chambers of commerce and industry.

The meeting was moderated by MÜSİAD Gaziantep Sectoral Committee Deputy Chair Mehmet Salih Balta, with high-level participants such as Halep Chamber of Commerce President Muhammed Said Sheikh El-Kar, International Business Forum Vice President Gazi Mısırlı, Halep Chamber of Industry President Imad Taha Alkasem, and Türkiye’s Trade Attachés in Aleppo, Tekin Çitoğlu and Sefa Akgül.

“We Brought Aleppo to Gaziantep”

Declaring the panel a milestone in bilateral business engagement, MÜSİAD Gaziantep Chairman Furkan Özdurdu said Türkiye and Syria are on track to reach a $5 billion trade volume in the near future.
“In this meeting, we have, so to speak, brought Aleppo to Gaziantep,” Özdurdu remarked. “Our businesspeople from Gaziantep and surrounding provinces will gain firsthand insights on current trade regulations, company formation, and operational procedures in Syria. With the efforts of our Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, we believe that Türkiye–Syria trade will soon exceed pre-war levels, reaching $5 billion in a very short time.”

Strengthening Bilateral Trade Through Dialogue

Aleppo Chamber of Commerce President Muhammed Said Sheikh El-Kar emphasized that the panel would play a major role in revitalizing business relations. “Events like this, organized by MÜSİAD, are vital for fostering direct dialogue between industrialists from both nations,” he said. “Aleppo and Gaziantep share a strategic industrial partnership, and collaborative projects will be crucial in rebuilding our regional economies.”

He added that Gaziantep’s industrial expertise positions it as a key partner in Syria’s economic recovery: “Turkish industrialists, especially those based in Gaziantep, will play a central role in our reconstruction and shared prosperity.”

“A Practical Roadmap for Business in Syria”

International Business Forum Vice President Gazi Mısırlı highlighted that the session was designed to provide hands-on guidance to investors. “We’re discussing how to do business, trade, and investment in Syria,” he said. “This event is significant because it brings together MÜSİAD members and Gaziantep’s business community with key decision-makers who understand the realities on the ground.”

Mısırlı added that the event aims to equip Turkish entrepreneurs with accurate, real-time information on trade procedures and investment conditions in Syria — a prerequisite for building sustainable commercial partnerships.

“Mutual Benefit at the Core of Cooperation”

Echoing this sentiment, Aleppo Chamber of Industry President Imad Taha Alkasem said the panel underscores the mutual benefits of Türkiye–Syria cooperation. “This meeting is held for the mutual positive interest of both nations,” he noted. “Through dialogue, we can identify how to support one another, facilitate investments in Syria, and build a foundation for long-term economic collaboration.”

Rebuilding Trade Bridges Between Türkiye and Syria

The panel marks one of the most significant steps in re-establishing cross-border trade since the onset of the Syrian conflict. With Gaziantep positioned as a logistical and industrial hub, Turkish and Syrian business leaders hope to rebuild supply chains, revive joint ventures, and expand market access in key sectors such as textiles, construction materials, food processing, and logistics.