ALBAWABA - A major land trade route in the Middle East has reopened after being closed for 15 years. This is a big deal for logistics in the area and for Jordan's export industry. Trucks from Jordan have started crossing the Bab al-Hawa border into Turkey. This opens up a key road route to European markets through Syria again.
The Ministry of Transport in Jordan said that trucks carrying goods to Turkey and Greece were able to cross the Bab al-Hawa–Cilvegözü bridge on Friday. This was possible thanks to a lot of planning between the Jordanian and Turkish governments. Officials said that all the customs and paperwork problems that had been stopping traffic at the crossing for a long time had been fixed. This meant that normal freight movement could begin again.
The ministry says that three Jordanian trucks entered Turkey without any problems during a test run, which shows that the border is ready for wider business use. The government expects more convoys in the next few days as methods are streamlined and people gain more faith in the route's dependability.
Business and trade get a boost
According to economists, the reopening will have big effects on the economy. Hossam Ayish, an analyst, said that Bab al-Hawa was a vital road that linked Europe to Syria, Jordan, and Gulf countries. He said that the fact that it had been closed for more than ten years had hurt Jordan's products and made it harder to trade with Turkey and other European countries.
Ayish said that when the crossing reopens, it will likely lead to more exports, lower transportation costs, and a better trade balance for Jordan. Lowering the costs of transportation could also make Jordanian goods more competitive in other countries and lower the costs of importing goods in the home market.
The route is seen as more than just a way to trade. It could also help with tourism, investment, and supply lines that connect the Levant to Europe. Bab al-Hawa is also near trade routes from the past, like the Silk Road, and the present, like the Belt and Road.
This crossing is one of the busiest between Syria and Turkey. It is on a major road that goes from Aleppo to southern Turkey. As long as Syria is the only land path for Jordan to get to Europe, the reopening is especially important for exporting fruits and vegetables, which had been hurt by years of problems.
