Syria reaffirms commitment to Arab cooperation in transport and logistics
Syrian Minister of Transport Yarub Suleiman Badr reaffirmed Syria’s commitment to strengthening joint Arab action in the transport sector during the 38th session of the Council of Arab Transport Ministers, which continued Tuesday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
In his address to the session, Badr stressed that Syria remains steadfast in its support for all efforts that enhance Arab economic and social integration, emphasizing the pivotal role played by the transport and logistics sector in achieving sustainable development across its economic, social and environmental dimensions. He described transport as a fundamental driver for consolidating economic ties among Arab states and advancing shared prosperity.
Badr expressed Syria’s appreciation to the Arab countries that hosted Syrian families during the years of war, particularly the Arab Republic of Egypt – its government and people – for their fraternal stance and generosity in welcoming hundreds of thousands of Syrians who worked and produced alongside their Egyptian brothers. He added that Syria looks forward to the return of its skilled professionals and experts spread across the Arab world to participate in the country’s reconstruction process, supported by all Arab states and especially by Egypt.
The minister also took part in the General Assembly meeting of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, praising the academy’s distinguished role in preparing Arab professionals in the fields of maritime transport, engineering, logistics and artificial intelligence. He commended the efforts of the academy’s president, Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Ali, whose leadership has elevated the institution to the ranks of leading global centers in transport and maritime education.
Badr noted that the temporary decline in revenues of the academy’s Lattakia branch over past years was a result of the difficult circumstances that Syria faced, affirming that this phase is now behind the country. He said the coming period will witness a revival of the branch’s activities and the restoration of its vital role in serving Syrian and Arab students and graduates. The minister invited the academy’s president to visit Syria and the Lattakia branch to review ongoing plans for developing its academic and training programs.
On the sidelines of the meetings, Badr met with Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Industry, Lt. Gen. Kamel Abdel Hadi El-Wazir, to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in air transport between the two countries. The two sides stressed the importance of expediting the resumption of regular flights between Cairo, Damascus and Alexandria, noting that restoring direct air links would strengthen communication between the two brotherly peoples and serve their shared interests.
The 38th session of the Council of Arab Transport Ministers began Monday in Cairo. During the meetings, participants agreed to convene the 39th session of the Council and the 75th session of its Executive Office in the last quarter of 2026, with the venue to be determined later in coordination with the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States.
