After 14 years of interruption, direct road transportation between Turkey and Syria has officially resumed. Under the coordination of Turkey’s Ministry of Trade and Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, and organized by the International Transporters’ Association (UND), Turkish-licensed trucks from Özcemay International Transport and Şenol İkiz Transport departed from Mersin to Damascus. This marks a historic step in reviving trade relations between the two neighboring countries.
The first trip took place on August 26, using TIR Carnets issued via the IRU. With this development, the need for transshipment or vehicle changes has been eliminated, allowing seamless cross-border operations once again. Before the Syrian civil war, bilateral trade was growing rapidly, but the conflict brought nearly all transport activities to a halt, forcing Turkish exporters and carriers to rely on longer and more costly routes.
The launch ceremony was attended by officials from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, customs authorities, UND representatives, and regional transporters. UND President Şerafettin Aras emphasized that resuming direct shipments will strengthen competitiveness by reducing costs and shortening delivery times. He also highlighted the strategic significance of the move, especially in the context of new transportation corridors such as the Development Road and Zangezur Corridor.
Raif Ay, CEO of Özcemay International Transport, which conducted the first shipments, underlined the importance of reestablishing a trade bridge between Europe and the Middle East. He noted that years of border closures and security risks had imposed high costs and delays, while the reopening of the route would cut transit times, lower risks, and reduce expenses.
UND board members Kemal Gül and Mehmet Ramiz Kılıç added that beyond direct Syria-bound shipments, transit and third-country transport operations would also revive, boosting Turkey’s influence in regional logistics. In a statement, UND thanked state institutions for their support, stressing that the reopening of this route provides significant advantages for both exporters and the logistics sector.
