Damascus, Sept. 3 (SANA) Syria and Türkiye discussed expanding transport cooperation and investment in road and railway infrastructure as the Syrian government moves to rehabilitate key trade corridors and improve links with neighboring countries.
Deputy Transport Minister for Land Transport Affairs Mohammad Rahhal met a delegation from the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) to discuss potential projects and ways Syria could draw on the expertise of Turkish companies.
Rahhal said upgrading Syria’s railway network was a strategic priority, citing its role in connecting ports and production centers with consumer markets and boosting freight movement and economic activity.
The Transport Ministry is also working to rehabilitate major roads and international corridors, he said, adding that tenders had been announced for the M45 international corridor and implementation procedures had begun for several projects.
Studies are being updated for transport links with the Syrian-Turkish border and a corridor connecting Tartous Port with the Iraqi border, with plans to offer the projects under build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangements.
The talks also addressed freight traffic between Syria and Türkiye. Rahhal said the current practice of transferring cargo between trucks was an exceptional measure and that authorities were considering more sustainable alternatives, including a truck replacement program backed by an appropriate financing mechanism.
He said Syria’s geographic position and resources offered significant investment opportunities extending beyond road and rail transport to logistics, production and digital transformation.
TÜSİAD representatives expressed interest in investment opportunities in Syria and said they would share the projects discussed with the association’s member companies to explore potential partnerships. Syria has been seeking investment to rehabilitate its transport infrastructure, including roads, railways and links between ports and major production and consumption centers.
R.D/ABD
