Damascus: Head of the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports, Qutaiba Badawi, met with Turkish Minister of Trade, Omar Bolat, to discuss enhancing trade exchange between Syria and Turkey. The meeting focused on economic coordination, tariff discussions, investments in Syrian free zones by Turkish investors, and opening the Kasab border crossing for small commercial trucks.

According to Syrian Arab News Agency, Badawi and Bolat, alongside a Turkish delegation, explored ways to develop bilateral trade and economic relations. They aimed to overcome trade barriers and increase exports. Badawi expressed gratitude to Turkey for its support of the Syrian people and highlighted Turkey’s role in assisting the Syrian government through various committee formations.

Badawi emphasized the importance of rehabilitating infrastructure such as scanners at land crossings and seaports to facilitate freight flow and bolster the transportation sector. Minister Bolat, representing a delegation of Turkish businessmen and indus
try leaders, discussed various cooperation aspects and expressed Turkey’s commitment to supporting Syria.

Bolat reiterated the strong friendship between the Turkish and Syrian people, highlighting Turkey’s ongoing support since the Syrian revolution. He expressed confidence in Syria’s unity and Turkey’s priority to support the aspirations of the Syrian people.

The Turkish delegation explored opportunities for joint cooperation in customs and trade. They expressed readiness to assist Syria in upgrading land crossings and the ports of Lattakia and Tartous, as well as facilitating Syria’s access to necessary information technology.