8400 Syrian company working with a label Made in Turkey

The Turkish government requires Syrian traders and owners of companies operating in the country, to label their goods as “made in Turkey”, although these companies are owned by Syrians and they pay their taxes and duties according to Turkish law. This law also requires Syrian traders to employ, at least, five Turks in each Syrian company, which exceeds 8,000 in number.

A large number of Syrian businessmen and traders were forced to leave their country because of the war and security conditions, that have led to a deterioration in their trade. These refugees are contributing positively to the economy of the country they have taken refuge in.

Amer Al-Muhammad, a 38-year-old, has a clothing store, lives in Gaziantep and usually exports clothes of Turkish origin to the Syrian north, which is controlled by the opposition forces.

“Hundreds of Syrian traders, who work in multiple kind of items and are promoting Turkish products, that were made by Syrian hands and expertise, in Turkey  ” . Said Al-Muhammad in an interview with North press, mentioning Syrian traders role in promoting Turkish good.

Al-Muhammad noted, that he personally enters goods into Syria, in amounts exceeding $ 100,000 per month.

Muhammead Al-Sabbagh, 45, owner of a factory for laurel soap  manufacturing, owned a factory in Aleppo for producing  laurel soap. His products were exported to several countries.

After the outbreak of protests against the Syrian government and the difficult security situation, the Syrian trader  was forced to flee to Turkey and establish a new facility there. He employs dozens of Syrian and Turkish workers.

“We produce soap and distribute some of them in Turkish markets and export most of them to Arab and foreign countries, yet, we are forced to mark the product as ‘Made in Turkey.'” Says Al-Sabbagh .

It should be noted that the Turkish law provides that each work license of a founder or shareholder of a company in Turkey, must employ at least five Turks, and the owners of factories in Turkey are forced to label their products as “Made in Turkey”.

Although there are annual fees and taxes paid to the Turkish government, yet, he is satisfied that the Turkish government and chambers of commerce and industry deal with him as a Syrian factory owner. As Al-Sabbagh added.

Furthermore, there are dozens of restaurants and cafes in addition to small and medium-sized shops and money exchangers shops, which, in turn, provide job opportunities for many Turks and Syrians.

Syrian labor has become favorite to the owners of Turkish companies and factories for many reasons, most importantly it is “lower cost” compared to the wages of Turkish workers, and they made a better effort.

The Union of Turkish Chambers of Commerce said in previous statements that the number of Syrian companies established in Turkey since 2011 exceeds /8000 / companies registered officially, in addition to hundreds of companies in the process of registration or operating without registration, all represent a significant addition to the Turkish economy. 

The Syrian investments in Turkey amounted to 1.5 million dollars, according to (SIAD). The number of registered Syrian companies up to August reached 8400, up 4% compared to the same period, from the last year.

Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, Turkey has hosted more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees registered in the country, as the country that hosted most Syrian refugees, who were forced to flee theirs.