Increase in Turkish Exports to Syria by 54% Following Signing of 18 Trade Agreements
Turkey and Syria are strengthening their economic relations, as evidenced by a series of high-level diplomatic and business initiatives. The signing of 18 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) marks a significant step towards closer economic integration.
The Turkish Exporters' Assembly is organizing a high-level trade delegation for the Damascus International Fair, scheduled to run from August 27 through September. This event will see a strong participation of leading Turkish companies from various sectors. Turkey will operate a 1,000-square-meter pavilion at the fair, with nearly 100 Turkish companies expected to participate, along with Trade Minister Omer Bolat.
The Damascus International Fair is not the only platform for this growing economic partnership. The Türkiye-Syria Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) and the Türkiye-Syria Business Council have been established as institutional frameworks to facilitate closer economic integration.
The economic cooperation between Turkey and Syria is yielding positive results. Turkish exports to Syria increased by 54.31% year-over-year between December 8 and August 17, 2025, making Turkey Syria's largest trading partner.
However, Syria has implemented temporary import restrictions on certain agricultural products, including tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, fruits, and chicken meat, from August 1 to 31. These restrictions apply universally to all countries, not specifically targeting Turkish exporters. Turkish officials have noted this as a "temporary, periodic measure."
Despite these temporary restrictions, the economic ties between Turkey and Syria continue to strengthen. Researchers are studying how young Syrian refugees and Turks are building trust in Turkey, while Egypt is considering Turkish know-how for rebuilding projects in Syria, Libya, and Iraq.
On August 5-6, 2025, Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal Shaar led a delegation to Turkey to further discuss these economic partnerships.
In other news, there has been no impact on these economic cooperation efforts from Galatasaray's 4-0 win over Kayserispor or the magnitude 4.8 earthquake in Balikesir's Sindirgi, as these events are not related to the discussed economic cooperation between Turkey and Syria.
