Huge opportunities for economic cooperation between Iran and Syria
The economic opportunities in Syria are a unique opportunity to develop economic cooperation between the two countries.
According to the International Iranian Stone Exhibition, the Syrian economy has significant opportunities for Iranian companies to operate, but due to the shortcomings of the relevant agencies in using these capacities, some opportunities are being lost. Among these opportunities is the development of the Syrian port of Latakia. Properly operated, this port will be Iran's gateway to the Mediterranean Sea, followed by the Atlantic Ocean and Latin America. Such a level of access and opportunity, which has been provided to Iran again after about two millennia, can pave the way for the creation of a macroeconomic and political power for the country by creating strategic transit corridors; But now, due to Iran's lack of work and use of this port, this opportunity is being lost, and if the current trend on the part of Iran, the Syrian government will cede the port of Latakia to other parties. Russia, meanwhile, is taking advantage of the port of Tartus and taking advantage of this strategic opportunity.
Apart from the shortcomings in the use of this port, the required platform for access to the Mediterranean Sea and, consequently, the countries of Iraq, Syria and the Atlantic Ocean, is efficient transportation infrastructure. In this regard, it is necessary to connect Iran's rail and road network to the rail and road networks of Iraq and then Syria. Currently, the connection of the Iranian railway network to Iraq is suspended due to the completion of the Shalamcheh-Basra railway line. The Kermanshah-Khosravi-Khaneqin railway has also been approved as the second option for connecting Iran to Iraq, but after years of negotiations between the two leaders, these lines, especially the Shalamcheh-Basra line, have not been built and the maze has been suspended. Are political.
Also, some Iraqi railways need to be rebuilt to meet the heavy flow of transit. After Iraq, Syria will be connected to the Iraqi railway network with the construction of the Al-Qaim-Bokmal-Deir ez-Zor railway. Some of the country's railways are also in need of reconstruction to establish transit cargo due to war damage.
At present, the economic opportunities in Syria are a unique opportunity for the Iranian economy to flourish. The country's infrastructure needs extensive reconstruction in the erosive battle with terrorists. The United Nations estimates the Syrian reconstruction market at about $ 400 billion; Some experts also estimate this figure at more than $ 500 billion. Meanwhile, Iran's construction industries, including steel, cement, stone, etc., which due to high quality, cheap price, geographical proximity and good relations between the two countries, are the most prone industries to enter this market, due to lack of Transportation access has missed this great opportunity.
In addition, Iraq is in need of civil reconstruction due to the damage caused by the numerous wars, and the reconstruction market of this country is estimated at about $ 100 billion; But the transfer of construction materials in high volumes and several million tons per year, requires railways and rail connections between the two countries.
This is only part of the need to build transit routes between the two strategic allies of West Asia as soon as possible. Just as the supra-regional powers and their allies seek to sever the logistical link between the Axis countries and not to repeat the successful military-security experience between them in the economic field, Iran, as the heart of this axis, must work to establish the flow as soon as possible. Concentrate logistics between itself and its allies. In this case, the rich economic and strategic benefits of this work will not only collapse the system of sanctions imposed on the three countries of Iran, Syria and Iraq, but also the ground for the emergence of Iran as a new economic power in Asia and beyond. Will provide.
Ali Ziaei - Transportation Expert - Tasnim
