The Syrian authorities have begun excavation, grading and technical preparatory work for the reconstruction of the Qamishli-Nusaybin Border Gate, which was closed in 2012. Mazin Alloush of the Syrian General Directorate of Border Crossings and Customs announced that the gate would become the seventh border crossing point between Turkey and Syria. The project, to be carried out on an area of approximately 558 thousand square meters, includes the renovation and phased development of the infrastructure. In the first phase, import and export cargo areas, transit transport areas, an administrative building, passenger halls, customs units and staff housing will be built. The project aims to support trade, increase transit transport, reduce congestion, and shorten distances and crossing times.
Why it matters
The project is important in terms of reorganizing border crossings along the Turkey-Syria route, as the design of the gate as the seventh crossing point indicates an aim to create additional capacity in the existing crossing infrastructure. The planning of separate areas for cargo and transit transport shows that the development is not limited solely to passenger mobility, but also aims to regulate commercial flows. For this reason, the process constitutes an infrastructure step that should be monitored by those engaged in cross-border trade, carriers and people using the crossing routes. However, it has not yet been announced when the work will be completed, at which stages the gate will be opened for service, or whether the targeted reduction in congestion will be achieved.