UNDP Turkey, in coordination with Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MTSO), Mersin Tarsus Organized Industrial Zone (MTOSB), Mediterranean Exporters' Association (AİB) and Turkish - Arab Countries Businessman Association (TURAB), brought together Turkish and Syrian business on November 14th 2019, in Mersin, within the perspective of European Union (EU) funded “Turkey Resilience Project in Response to the Syria Crisis (TRP)” – Jobs Creation Component. Businesspeople and entrepreneurs representing 183 companies, attended the b2b meetings between Syrian and local businesses to boost new partnerships and business opportunities. The meeting took place, as part of our efforts to build bridges of further investment, trade and cooperation between Turkish and Syrian business owners, together with our local partners, chambers of industry and commerce, and the representatives of local business community.

The organization, as part of our continuous efforts with EU support, in order to pave the way for sustainable development in the region, to contribute in local economic development, to boost further investments, business and employment, was attended mostly by Turkish and Syrian business owners from the region willing to have talks for new business partnerships and opportunities. Businesspeople and private sector representatives from Iran, Iraq and Jordan have also attended the meeting which focused on increasing regional trade volume through establishing new business networks and boost mutual investments. During the business networking sessions, participants had the chance to meet, present their companies, services and products, got insights on the market developments in various sectors and explore new partnership opportunities. 27% of the participants to the event were women entrepreneurs and company representatives.

According to researches, during the ongoing Syria crisis in its 9th year, over 10,000 companies were established in Turkey by Syrians that has created around 100,000 jobs and Syrian businesspeople have invested over 1,5 billion TRY in Turkey and created a positive impact in the local economy in terms of jobs creation, business development and exports via Middle Eastern markets. According to a recent publication by the UNDP, which shows the mapping of Syrian owned enterprises in Turkey, 58% of the Syrians owned companies are exporting their products and services while 40% of them gain their total income by exports. However, despite a dynamic potential for joint ventures and further business cooperation, partnerships and commercial relations between the business communities remained to be limited.