Ankara: Turkey and Syria signed a protocol on Tuesday to establish a joint economic and trade committee between the two countries. The signing ceremony took place at the Turkish Ministry of Trade in the capital, Ankara, with Turkish Trade Minister –mer Polat and Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal al-Shaar in attendance.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Minister al-Shaar’s visit marks the first by a Syrian economic official to Turkey since the fall of the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad. Minister Polat highlighted the importance of a stable administration and economy in Syria for the stability of the region and the prosperity of the Syrian people.

Polat noted that economic relations between Turkey and Syria are progressing positively in the post-regime period. He shared trade exchange statistics, revealing that it reached $1.9 billion in the first seven months of this year, compared to $2.6 billion last year.

Regarding the newly established joint economic and trade committee, Polat stated that economic cooperation activities between the two countries will continue within this framework, aiming to further strengthen bilateral economic ties.