The Syrian Future Movement is following with great interest the announcement by the General Authority for Ports and Customs on Friday, June 26, 2026, of Syria’s resumption of participation in the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council meetings. Syria will be represented by an official delegation comprising the Director General of Customs, Khaled Al-Barad, and the Director of Local and International Relations at the Authority, Mazen Alloush. The delegation will participate in the 147th and 148th sessions, held in Brussels, Belgium, which will continue until Saturday, June 27, 2026.
This participation comes after an absence of several years, reflecting Syria’s return to its rightful place in international forums and embodying the Syrian government’s commitment to developing the customs sector and strengthening its role in supporting the national economy and connecting it to global supply chains.
The Syrian Future Movement appreciates the resumption of Syria’s participation in the WCO, considering it a realization of the “New Syria” vision based on economic openness and regional and international integration.
The Movement also commends this step, which ends years of isolation and returns Syria to the international customs decision-making platform, where the WCO comprises 187 countries and customs territories. This participation represents international recognition of the Syrian government’s efforts to reform the customs sector and a practical implementation of the reform initiatives announced by Syrian officials in recent months.
The Syrian Future Movement points out that the comprehensive customs reforms undertaken in Syria, most notably the establishment of the General Authority for Ports and Customs and the issuance of a new customs law, are the foundation that enabled this return.
We note that this participation did not occur in a vacuum, but rather is the culmination of a series of institutional and legislative reforms implemented by the Syrian government, which included:
- Establishing the General Authority for Ports and Customs as a unified national body to manage ports, the customs sector, and free zones.
- Issuing a new customs law and an updated customs tariff, in accordance with international standards.
- Launching the Syrian Customs Academy to train specialized personnel and enhance the efficiency of customs performance.
The Syrian Future Movement, for its part, appreciates these reforms, which represent a qualitative leap in the work of the Customs Authority and enhance its ability to contribute to facilitating trade, border security, and combating smuggling and transnational crime.
The Syrian Future Movement recalls its steadfast positions supporting the development of the customs sector and strengthening Syria’s role in global supply chains, as published on its official website, including:
- The statement on the “Agreement for the Operation of the Dry Ports in Adra and Aleppo” (dated May 20, 2026), which emphasized the importance of developing logistical infrastructure and linking seaports with inland logistics centers to enhance shipping and transportation between ports and free zones.
- The statement on the “Launch of the ‘Food Expo 2026’ in Damascus” (dated June 22, 2026), which welcomed the government’s efforts to restore the position of Syrian food products in global markets and considered improving the investment climate a fundamental pillar for economic recovery.
The Syrian Future Movement expresses cautious optimism and offers a set of recommendations to ensure that this participation is leveraged to strengthen international cooperation and develop the customs sector.
It is also worth noting that the true success of Syria’s participation in the World Customs Organization (WCO) will be measured by its ability to utilize this membership to develop its customs policies, attract investments, and improve the business environment.
Based on its national responsibility, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- Utilizing WCO membership to modernize customs legislation and procedures in accordance with the latest international standards, facilitate trade, reduce customs clearance times, and attract more investments, following the example of countries that have successfully improved their customs environments.
- Strengthening cooperation with the customs administrations of member states and exchanging expertise and information, particularly in the areas of combating smuggling and transnational crime, securing supply chains, and facilitating trade, thereby contributing to the protection of the national economy.
- Promoting Syria’s geographical location as a regional logistics hub and inviting the international business community to utilize Syrian seaports and land crossings as logistical corridors supporting trade and transit, echoing the call made by the Director of the General Customs Administration, Khaled Al-Barad, during the opening session of the Council.
- Continuing the path of institutional and legislative reforms in the customs sector, developing the Syrian Customs Academy, training national personnel, and enhancing the efficiency of customs performance, thereby strengthening Syria’s role in global supply chains and supporting economic recovery efforts.
The Syrian Future Movement welcomes this important step, which affirms Syria’s return to its rightful place in international forums and strengthens opportunities for economic and investment cooperation.
We believe it is essential to develop the customs sector as it is a fundamental gateway to improving the business environment, attracting investments, and reinforcing Syria’s role as a regional logistics hub.
We also believe that the Syrian government is called upon today to capitalize on this momentum and continue the reform process so that the new Syria becomes an active partner in the global economy, capable of fulfilling its people’s aspirations for freedom, dignity, and prosperity.
