Ankara, Aug. 16 (SANA) Türkiye is expanding and upgrading several customs crossings along its border with Syria as it seeks to increase capacity, improve infrastructure and accommodate growing trade ahead of Syria’s reconstruction phase.
Türkiye’s Trade Ministry is carrying out projects to expand border facilities, construct service buildings and upgrade infrastructure at several crossings opposite Syrian border points, Anadolu Agency reported.
Major Border Crossings Expanded
Expansion work at the Yayladagi crossing in Hatay province, opposite the Bab al-Hawa crossing, was about 33% complete during the first seven months of 2026. The facility is being expanded from 17 to 23 dunams, while the number of lanes will double from two to four.
At the Akçakale crossing, opposite Tal Abyad, mines have been cleared from 24 dunams of land belonging to Türkiye’s Defense Ministry. The Trade Ministry has allocated an additional 59 dunams for the expansion and modernization of the crossing.
Planning and construction work is also continuing on a service building at the Oncupinar crossing, opposite Bab al-Salama, while the area of the Cobanbey crossing, opposite al-Rai, is being expanded from 21 to 71 dunams.
At the Karkamis crossing, opposite Jarablus in the Aleppo countryside, construction of permanent service buildings has begun alongside plans to expand the facility from 15 to 90 dunams.
Preparing for Increased Trade
Infrastructure and other construction work has been completed at the Nusaybin crossing, opposite Qamishli. The crossing is expected to become operational if a customs crossing opens in Qamishli.
The projects come amid growing economic ties and cross-border trade between Syria and Türkiye, with preparations underway to expand commercial activity and improve transport links as Syria moves through recovery and reconstruction.
Syria’s General Authority for Land and Sea Ports and Customs announced on July 27 that construction and rehabilitation work had begun at the Bab al-Salama crossing to improve services, facilitate the movement of passengers and goods, and upgrade infrastructure.
The project is part of a broader Syrian program to rehabilitate border crossings and improve their operational capacity.
Border crossings with Türkiye serve as important trade and transport links between the two countries and connect Syrian markets with Türkiye and Europe. Their expansion is expected to increase the movement of goods and improve customs clearance and transport capacity as economic activity grows.
MHD
