Turkey develops new projects to boost economy in Syria’s Afrin

Turkey continues its efforts to return peace and prosperity to Syria’s northwestern Afrin, which was liberated from Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists within the scope of Operation Olive Branch in March 2018, by investing in various projects to boost social and economic growth in the region.

Turkey has been developing new projects in trade, agriculture and transportation to end long-lasting deprivation and normalize daily life in the town.

The Olive Branch Customs Gate along the Turkish-Syrian border, which was officially opened on Nov. 8, is one of the ground-breaking projects developed to speed up the delivery of humanitarian aid to the city and meet the infrastructure needs of the region.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch in coordination with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) troops to clear terrorist groups from Afrin amid growing threats from the region.

The Turkish Post and Telegraph Organization (PTT) is preparing to open a new branch in Afrin at a refurbished and renovated building which had been used a post office before the conflict in Syria began.

The new branch will provide mail, banking, and logistics services to residents as well as local Turkish officials.

Turkey also announced that Syrians in Afrin will be exporting their crops, especially Afrin’s famous olives, through the Turkish Agricultural Credit Cooperatives to enhance trade relations in the region.

Turkey's Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD) on Thursday also opened a new branch in northern Syria's opposition-held Azaz region.

They are both expected to contribute to the cities’ economic growth.

Underlining that trade is the most important point in the normalization process, Ibrahim Uyar, the head of MUSIAD's foreign organization and development commission, expressed their desire to work on establishing free trade zones.