Syria's Transport Minister Courts Chinese Investors

Syria's Minister of Transport, Dr. Yarob Badr, held a meeting with representatives of two Chinese companies to discuss potential partnership in transport sector projects, presenting available investment opportunities in road, rail and digital infrastructure.

Road and Highway Projects

Minister Badr noted that the ministry has tendered road and highway rehabilitation projects worth nearly $500 million, of which projects worth $350 million have already been awarded to Kuwaiti, Saudi and Qatari companies.

Railway Rehabilitation

Badr pointed to ongoing cooperation with the World Bank to rehabilitate parts of the railway network, which is expected to generate revenues that help complete rehabilitation works and build the capacity of railway staff.

National Freight Platform

The minister presented the national electronic platform project for organizing freight transport, which allows producers to choose transport alternatives and complete payments electronically. He noted that the ministry received offers from 26 companies in early 2026, from which a shortlist has been selected ahead of choosing the technical and financial offer in the coming months.

Transport Services and Digital Transformation

The meeting also addressed the development of vehicle technical inspection centers and improving services at transport directorates, with the minister stressing that digital transformation is a key solution for improving services and curbing corruption.

Real Estate and Toll Roads

Badr presented investment opportunities in Ministry of Transport real estate, including tourism, recreational and industrial sites, with work underway to develop their presentation using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology.

He also presented a project worth approximately $2.92 million involving toll roads, most notably a route from the Jordanian border to the Turkish border, and a road linking Tartus port to the Iraqi border. He explained that the Islamic Development Bank will contribute to the studies, offer evaluation and award procedures, scheduled to be completed within 18 months.

• The Chinese companies expressed interest in reviewing the investment opportunities presented
• Areas of cooperation and partnership in transport and infrastructure projects were discussed
• The meeting was attended by International Cooperation Director Iyad Al-Assaad, Investment Director Ali Al-Qaddour, and Government Communication Director Hussein Al-Hajj Abdullah

At the conclusion of the meeting, Badr emphasized the importance of continued communication with the Chinese companies and turning the investment opportunities presented into projects and partnerships that contribute to developing the transport sector and strengthening infrastructure.