Published January 28,2026

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Türkiye’s production capacity is expected to help Oman reach its economic transformation goals, as economic and trade relations between the two countries are set to deepen at the OMNEX 2026 Oman-Türkiye Business Forum and International Trade Fair.

Yunus Ete, chair of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) Türkiye-Oman Business Council, told Anadolu that Türkiye’s industrial infrastructure and engineering expertise will make “concrete contributions” to Oman’s economic diversification efforts.

Ete shared that the OMNEX 2026 conference will be held in the Omani capital Muscat on Feb. 2-4. Anadolu is the global communications partner of the event.

He described OMNEX 2026 as an inclusive cooperation platform focused on future investments and production models, adding that selecting Türkiye as this year’s guest of honor carries “much deeper meaning than a symbolic gesture.”

Ete said Oman is one of Türkiye’s strategic, long-term partners.

“We aim to take the relations between the two countries to a higher level at this event,” he said.

Ete noted that the two nations’ bilateral relations are built on a sustainable foundation through the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) mechanism. He added that the forum represents the diplomatic momentum generated by high-level visits between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Omani Head of State Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.

– Oman represents safe haven for investors

Ete said Oman offers significant advantages to investors due to its valuable and fixed exchange rate and political stability, which enhance predictability.

“Oman is a low-cost and strategic production base for entry into the market of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),” he said. “Also, its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US allows firms producing here with duty-free access to the American market.”

He said OMNEX 2026 will cover a wide range of sectors, including industry, energy, logistics, tourism, construction, education, and healthcare, and is designed to appeal to small and medium-sized enterprises, large firms, and entrepreneurs.

“We think cultural ties need to be reinforced for cooperation to be sustainable. A gastronomy and culture festival, as well as a traditional fashion show, will be held at the forum for this goal,” he added.

He added that the event aligns with Oman Vision 2040, the country’s long-term transformation project, in which Turkish industrial and technological capabilities could play a key role.

Ete said Turkish companies could contribute significantly in areas ranging from infrastructure development to technology transfer.

OMNEX 2026 is expected to bring together a broad investment ecosystem, covering the Gulf, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

“The Turkish business community should consider the event not as an observer but as an active player, as the decisions made here will determine the depth of Türkiye-Oman relations,” he added.

The 228‑m Yıldırım, built in South Korea and capable of drilling to 12,000m with accommodation for 200, reached Filyos after strait transit; its drilling tower will be reassembled ahead of a planned April start of Black Sea exploration and production.

Published 28.01.2026 13:01

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Türkiye’s exports to Syria reached over $2.5 billion in 2025, as the Turkish business community focused on developing trade and collaborations with the neighboring country, alongside efforts to bring stability to Syria.

Trade relations between Türkiye and Syria reached a new level after the fall of the Baathist regime in Dec. 2024.

Diplomatic talks between the two countries last year increased alongside business talks between the business communities of Türkiye and Syria.

Turkish exports to Syria surged 69.9% year-on-year in 2025, rising to over $2.5 billion, around $700 million of which was made up of the cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and products sector.

Some eight active customs gates saw increased activity, while the number of passengers using land border gates totaled 2.3 million in 2025, some 1.35 million of whom were departing from Türkiye.

The business community expects this activity to continue into 2026, as trade reaches a new dimension.

Mahsum Altunkaya, chair of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) Türkiye-Syria Business Council, told Anadolu that the political changes in Syria and the easing of global sanctions on the country created momentum in trade relations.

Türkiye has been one of the countries to closely follow the process in Syria due to its geographical proximity and its historical and economic ties to its neighbor.

“Türkiye is one of the key and constructive advocates for Syria’s reconstruction and development—these positive changes in bilateral relations are strongly reflected in trade between the two countries, as the volume of mutual trade is on the rise every day, which creates a more predictable, secure, and sustainable trading environment,” he said.

Altunkaya stated that Turkish exports to Syria surged last year, and some double-digit growth was seen in many exporter sectors.

“This showed clearly that Turkish exporters once again turned to the Syrian market, but of course, the sustainability of this rise is directly linked to the consolidation of political and economic stability,” he noted.

Altunkaya mentioned that the sectors addressing necessities and the reconstruction of the country came forward among other Turkish exports to Syria last year, particularly the food group.

“The cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and products sector maintained its importance in the Syrian market, leading exports, and marking a surge of over 35% in 2025,” he noted.

He added that sectors like chemicals, electrical and electronics, aquatic and animal products, as well as furniture, paper, and forest products, also saw increases in the range of 60-80%, while machinery and equipment, textiles and raw materials, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, the air conditioning industry, and mining products also stood out in exports.

Altunkaya stated that the customs gates to Syria have reopened and the situation has been “extremely positive.”

He mentioned that some 600,000 Syrians returned to their country of origin voluntarily between December 2024 and 2025, citing Turkish Interior Ministry data.

“While the Syrian government is establishing control all around the country, we expect a rise in the voluntary return of Syrians living in Türkiye moving forward,” he added.

Altunkaya stated that the regime change in Syria marked the beginning of a new era in which “peace and stability are on the rise every day, with things getting back on track.”

“We expect the trade between the two countries to rise even further with the elimination of security concerns each day—trade and social relations between the two countries will take on a new dimension with the complete elimination of security concerns, and with our investments in the country’s industrial sector, we will contribute more to Syria’s development and peace,” he noted.

“As peace is made in the region and people find food and employment, Syrian guests in Türkiye will be more eager to return, but when it comes to Türkiye-Syria relations, we want to operate under a win-win model, and by playing an active role in its reconstruction and development, we want to contribute to Syria’s becoming a center of peace and prosperity,” he added.

Published January 27,2026

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There can be no “state within a state” or separate armed forces in Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Tuesday, stressing that the country’s crisis must be resolved peacefully and in line with existing agreements.

Speaking at the International Contracting Services Award Ceremony, Erdoğan said a political solution consistent with the spirit of the political agreement remains the only viable path forward.

“We are greatly pleased to see that the latest decree guarantees the fundamental rights of our Kurdish brothers and sisters, who were not even considered citizens under the Assad regime,” he said, adding: “The right path for Syria is clear. We want everyone to see that repeating the same mistakes and errors will lead nowhere.”

Erdoğan said that Türkiye is responding to humanitarian aid requests from “our Kurdish brothers and sisters living beyond our borders in close cooperation with the Syrian government.”

He called on “Kurdish brothers, sisters, and fellow citizens not to fall for schemes that aim to undermine our eternal brotherhood and sow discord among us.”

The president also said that a major reconstruction and rehabilitation campaign will begin throughout Syria, especially in the residential areas that the former regime had reduced to rubble with barrel bombs.

As Syria attains stability and security, all neighboring countries, starting with Türkiye, will directly feel its positive effects, he added.