Shafaq News- Damascus
Syrian exports to Iraq face a range of logistical and marketchallenges, with growing competition from Turkish products emerging as one ofthe main pressures on Syrian manufacturers, a Syrian official told Shafaq Newson Friday.
The head of the Economic Sciences Association at theDamascus Chamber of Commerce, Mohammad Hallaq, explained that logisticalobstacles include transportation and border-crossing procedures that affect theflow of goods, noting that Turkish products benefit from competitive pricingand are backed by substantial operating capital that supports extensivewarehousing and distribution networks across Iraq.
The reopening of border crossings between Syria and Iraq hasfacilitated trade, but Iraqi consumer preferences and demand patterns havechanged. Declining purchasing power and reduced liquidity in Iraq have alteredthe business environment compared with previous years, when trade activity wasstronger and commercial exhibitions were more common.
Despite these constraints, Hallaq indicated, Syrian productsstill have opportunities in Iraq due to their reputation and consumer trust. Strengthening their presence will require greater support for domesticproducers, lower production and transportation costs, and more reliable accessto target markets.
Last month, Osama Al-Qadi of Syria's Ministry of Economytold Shafaq News that Baghdad and Damascus are seeking to double bilateraltrade within the next two years and expect bilateral trade to surpass pre-warlevels before the end of 2027.