Turkey develops trade plan to boost economy in Syria’s Afrin

Syria’s northwestern Afrin, which was liberated from terror elements as part of Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch, is going to be normalized with a socio-economic development plan. In this respect, it will be ensured that Afrin becomes a lively trading area and that the social and economic growth of the region is boosted.

The Turkish government is going to request that the approximately 8,000 Syrian businessmen in Turkey establish factories in Afrin. Investments in textile and olive cultivation are expected to contribute to employment in the region.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear terrorist groups from Afrin, northwestern Syria amid growing threats from the region.

On March 18, Turkish-backed troops liberated the town center of Afrin, which had been a major hideout for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror group since 2012.

An area similar to a free trade zone will be established in the region, and Syrians in refugee camps in Turkey will receive vocational training. Employment and production opportunities will be provided.

Syrian women who have qualified from weaving courses will receive incentives regarding textiles and ready-to-wear clothing. The products made will be put out into the global market. Turkey is currently focusing on developing the trade infrastructure to ensure this.

A series of measures and incentives will come on the agenda to ensure that Syrians who return to their lands can secure their own livelihood. It is a priority to reclaim agricultural land that has been abandoned due to Syria’s civil war. The land in this case will be ploughed by the people of the region.

Afrin is known for its olive trees, and steps to revive the olive industry in the region will be taken to ensure that it can become a profitable industry. These steps include the establishment of olive processing facilities. Ranches will also be established in the region.

It is the aim of the three guarantor countries of the Astana process to make areas cleared of terror elements return to normalcy. Steps taken to actualize this aim will enable reverse migration to take place as Syrian locals displaced by war return to their homelands.

Russia and Turkey, along with Iran are sponsoring the Astana peace talks, which focuses on a cease-fire and ending the six-and-a-half-year civil war in Syria.

There are approximately 8,000 Syrian businessmen in Turkey who operate in various industries. Their economic contribution to Turkey exceeds TRY 1.2 billion.