ANKARA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Turkish investors are expressing strong interest in re-entering Syria's long-isolated economy and expanding cooperation between the neighboring countries following the lifting of international sanctions on Damascus, experts said.
Syria's economy had been in ruins since the civil war that began in 2011, with sweeping Western sanctions targeting financial institutions tied to former government.
Over five months after al-Assad's overthrow, the United States on May 13 announced it would lift its sanctions on Syria, beginning a phased easing of restrictions last week. The European Union followed suit on Wednesday, announcing the removal of most of its economic measures.
Celal Kadooglu, a board member of the Turkish Exporters Assembly, noted that the lifting of sanctions has been positively received by the Turkish business sector and interest among local businesses is surging.
"Türkiye is one of the countries that will play a key role in establishing regional stability and rebuilding Syria in the new period. This is a humanitarian responsibility as well as an economic and strategic opportunity for us," the business representative said.
Turkish companies in border provinces like Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, and Hatay have begun upgrading logistics operations and warehouse facilities in anticipation of increased bilateral trade, according to the local press.
Noting that Turkish and Syria have been intensifying talks focused on economic normalization, Batu Coskun, a nonresident fellow at the United Arab Emirates-based Trends Research and Advisory, said, "These discussions explore partnerships in rebuilding roads, housing, water systems, and power grids, where Turkish firms are eager to contribute and already have cross-border operational knowledge."
Amid renewed economic cooperation, Türkiye's exports to Syria jumped to 669 million U.S. dollars in the first four months of 2025, reflecting a 36.7 percent rise from the same period in 2024, official trade figures released last week showed.
Nevertheless, Coskun also cautioned that Syria's weakened banking system and the lack of legal guarantees remain serious challenges.
Meanwhile, Türkiye also hopes the end of economic restrictions could encourage Syrian refugees to return home. The country hosts a large Syrian refugee population and has expressed cautious optimism about a gradual repatriation process.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told media on Wednesday that 250,000 Syrians have voluntarily returned since the political shift in Damascus.
"People no longer fear hostilities, which was a major barrier to return," Metin Corabatir, a refugee expert based in Ankara, told Xinhua. "But many are waiting to see real improvements in security and infrastructure before making the final move."
Corabatir, head of the Asylum and Migration Research Center, pointed out that return decisions hinge mostly on reliable access to education, healthcare, housing, and jobs -- all of which remain fragile in many parts of Syria.
The expert estimated that the number of returns could increase with the arrival of summer.
According to the United Nations, rebuilding Syria's power, water, healthcare, and education systems after nearly 14 years of war will take many years and require billions of dollars in investment. ■
