Istanbul, July 2 (SANA)A delegation from Syria’sGeneral Authority for Borders and Customs(GABC) is participating in the fifthTürkiyeMaritime Summit in Istanbul, a two-day event bringing together government officials, international maritime organizations, port authorities and leading shipping and logistics companies.

The Syrian delegation, headed by Director of Ports General Directorate, Naji Abidin, is attending the summit as part of efforts to strengthen the authority’s presence in international maritime forums, keep pace with developments in themaritime transportsector, and benefit from global best practices in port management and logistics services. The Authority said on Thursday.

The summit is discussing strategic files shaping the future of maritime transport, including digital transformation in ports, artificial intelligence applications in operational management, the development of smart ports, maritime safety and security, as well as the transition to sustainable shipping and carbon emission reduction in line withInternational Maritime Organization(IMO) targets.

The summit also provided the Syrian delegation with opportunities to hold meetings with international officials and companies, explore the latest technologies in port management and supply chains, and discuss cooperation and expertise exchange to support Syria’s port development efforts, Abidin said.

Abidin emphasized that the authority’s participation reflects its commitment to leveraging global expertise to enhance the efficiency of maritime and logistics services in Syria, upgrading infrastructure and consolidating Syria’s position on the regional and international maritime map, amid ongoing development and investment projects in the maritime sector.

The Türkiye Maritime Summit is one of the region’s premier specialized maritime events, serving as an international platform for dialogue, expertise exchange and the presentation of innovations and policies supporting maritime trade development and global supply chain sustainability.

Syria’s participation aligns with broader efforts to modernize its maritime infrastructure, including the entry ofDP Worldinto Tartous Port in 2025 and a major shipyardinvestmentagreement with a Turkish company earlier this year.