New Roadmap for Investment and Industrial Cooperation Between Damascus Countryside Chamber of Industry and Turkish USİAD Association

Bridging the competitive advantages of the Syrian economy and advanced Turkish industrial expertise, the extensive meeting between the Damascus & Countryside Chamber of Industry and the delegation of the Turkish Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (USİAD) served as a vital platform to discuss a new roadmap for joint investment, knowledge transfer, and resolving cross-border logistical obstacles.

 

Mr. Moataz Tarabichi, Vice President of the Damascus & Countryside Chamber of Industry, met with Mr. Nevaf Kılıç, President of USİAD. The delegation included a group of Turkish businessmen and industrialists representing diverse economic sectors. The meeting was attended by Chamber board members: Mr. Abdullah Al-Zayed (Secretary), Mr. Adham Al-Tabbaa (Treasurer), Mr. Raeif Al-Subei (Board Member), Eng. Wafaa Abu Labdeh, Mr. Osama Al-Nan, and Mr. Mahmoud Al-Maajel.

 

Mr. Moataz Tarabichi opened the meeting by emphasizing the depth of the fraternal relations between Syria and Turkey, describing the northern neighbor as an "older brother" keen on the interests of its siblings and neighbors. Tarabichi expressed the Syrian business sector's aspirations to build solid and sustainable strategic partnerships with Turkish counterparts across various fields. He noted that the current phase is witnessing a promising launch for the Syrian economy in its industrial, agricultural, and tourism sectors, making the country a focus of attention for countries and economic decision-makers worldwide.

 

Speaking on investment advantages, the Vice President of the Chamber stressed that Syria possesses a highly attractive industrial environment backed by deep-rooted expertise, alongside significant competitive advantages—most notably low production costs, reliance on skilled local labor, and competitive wages. Tarabichi expressed hope that these joint meetings would yield tangible positive results, moving bilateral relations from the framework of words and intentions into real projects on the ground, serving the interests of both friendly countries and peoples.

 

For his part, the head of the Turkish business delegation affirmed the deep brotherly ties between the Syrian and Turkish peoples, noting that the delegation does not feel like strangers in Syria but rather among brothers. He considered Syria a sisterly and neighboring country that shares the longest border and the largest number of border crossings with Turkey. Introducing the association, the head of the delegation explained that USİAD comprises an elite group of businessmen, covering 25 Turkish provinces through its branches, in addition to its international presence in 20 countries worldwide. He pointed out that the association's primary goal is first to strengthen bonds of friendship, and subsequently to develop joint trade and economic exchange. He expressed the association’s full readiness, with all its diverse sectors and cadres, to provide all forms of support and assistance to the Syrian Chamber of Industry and the private sector, contributing to driving industrial and commercial cooperation between the two nations.

 

During the meeting, the Turkish side raised a crucial point regarding border infrastructure, emphasizing the urgent need to upgrade border systems. On the economic and knowledge-exchange front, the Turkish side called for fostering cooperation and technology transfer. Syrian companies and economic entities were invited to submit written proposals and ideas regarding the operational mechanisms of industrial and commercial cities and agricultural sectors in Turkey, aiming to benefit from these experiences and gradually implement them in joint operations.

 

The meeting featured a clear call from Syrian industrialists to benefit from advanced Turkish expertise in management, operation, and modern mechanization. They considered that transferring and applying these experiences locally would yield qualitative gains and mutual benefits. They stressed the importance of formulating a clear and executable action plan to simulate and adopt successful models of Turkish industrial, commercial, and agricultural chambers. Current proposals focus on understanding operation and mechanization mechanisms, studying how economic facilities are managed in Turkey, and relying on modern technology (automation and mechanization) to raise quality and reduce costs. They also emphasized providing written studies and detailed action plans highlighting Turkish success mechanisms to develop local projects, and gradually introducing these modern methods into local production lines and companies to ensure assimilation and sustainability.

 

The meeting concluded with the USİAD delegation presenting honorary shields to the Vice President and board members of the Damascus & Countryside Chamber of Industry, in appreciation of their warm hospitality and the Chamber's leading role in supporting industrialists. Amid mutual aspirations for a strong launch of promising partnerships in the coming days, both parties agreed to establish a joint action plan to exchange visits and organize exhibitions, ensuring the flow of investments and revitalizing industrial and commercial activity in the upcoming phase.

 

From the Syrian side, the meeting was also attended by the following industrialists: Mahmoud Al-Mufti, Mohammad Al-Sahhar, Fathi Al-Barghali, Ibrahim Rumman, Samer Shoulah, and Mohannad Al-Khoja

 

2/7/2026