Syria Allocates $500M to Rehabilitate Main Roads

Syria's Transport Minister Yaarub Badr urged Syrian and Lebanese businessmen to move beyond transit activity alone and establish a joint base for production, marketing and logistics services. He made the remarks while participating in the first Syrian Lebanese Investment Forum held in Beirut on Wednesday.

Joint Production and Marketing Hub

Badr said the approach relies on leveraging complementary advantages between the two countries, particularly in agricultural produce, through processing and manufacturing that raises added value and competitiveness in Mediterranean and global markets. He noted the vision aims to turn the region stretching from the eastern Mediterranean through the Syrian desert into a joint hub for production and marketing, combining raw materials, industrial and marketing expertise, and the ports of both countries.

$500 Million for Transit Roads

Badr reviewed the Syrian government's efforts to rehabilitate transport infrastructure to accommodate trade flows between Syria and neighboring countries, as well as transit traffic crossing Syrian territory between Turkey, Europe and the Gulf, and between Iraq and the Mediterranean.

He said the government allocated about $500 million to rehabilitate the main central road network used for transit cargo over six years, through international tenders to attract major road rehabilitation companies, with execution to be supervised by specialized firms.

Gradual Rail Network Rehabilitation

Badr noted that Syria's rail network spans about 2,800 kilometers, of which around 1,000 kilometers are currently operational. He said upcoming efforts will focus on gradually rehabilitating the network, prioritizing routes capable of generating economic returns that can fund rehabilitation of other sections. He pointed to a $200 million World Bank grant to begin rail rehabilitation and provide early recovery support.

Digital Transformation in Transport

Badr also reviewed Transport Ministry efforts on digital transformation aimed at improving services across transport sectors, particularly freight movement, stating that infrastructure development alongside digital transformation and enhanced logistics forms part of efforts to support trade and regional connectivity.

Syrian Lebanese Investment Forum

The first Syrian Lebanese Investment Forum was held in Beirut with a Syrian economic delegation led by Economy and Industry Minister Nidal al-Shaar, attended by more than 300 economic figures from both countries, to discuss cooperation and investment partnership opportunities in rebuilding, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, industry, tourism and transport.

The Syrian delegation also included Tourism Minister Mazen al-Salhani, Health Minister Musaab al-Ali, Agriculture Minister Basel al-Sweidan, representatives from the Energy and Emergency and Disaster Management ministries, heads of the Investment and Civil Aviation authorities, Syrian charge d'affaires in Beirut Eyad al-Hazzaa, and the head of the Syrian Lebanese Business Council.