Türkiye signals strong economic cooperation for Syria’s reconstruction

ISTANBUL

A view of Damascus is seen from the Mount Qassioun, which was opened to the public after the fall of the Assad regime, in Syria, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.

Türkiye signaled strong economic cooperation for Syria’s reconstruction after the 61-year Baath regime fell in early December last year, leaving behind a country with significant economic and infrastructural problems.

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and Turkish businesspeople and industrialists’ chambers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in economy and trade met to discuss the reconstruction of Syria and strengthen its economy and trade, the Trade Ministry said on Jan. 7.

Establishing a sustainable state structure, peace and security in Syria topped the meeting’s agenda.

The ministry stated that strong cooperation needs to be established between Türkiye and Syria after the 13-year civil war to create a politically and economically stable environment for the coming period.

Bashar al-Assad, leader of Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups seized Damascus on Dec. 8, 2024, marking the end of the Baath Party’s control.

The Baath regime’s attacks on Syria’s infrastructure and population to keep holding onto power left behind an economy in shambles, while the civil war that started in 2011 further dampened the country’s development and its human resources.

The war destroyed homes, businesses, schools, electricity distribution, and displaced 6 million people across the globe and 7 million people inside Syria.