Key Takeaways
- Tiryaki Syria, a subsidiary of Tiryaki Agro, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Syrian Sovereign Fund to develop an agricultural processing facility in Syria.
- The project targets approximately USD 500 million in annual processing value over a 10-year operational period.
- The facility will process around 300,000 tonnes of soybeans and 100,000 tonnes of sunflower seeds per year, covering edible oil, food, feed, poultry, and livestock sectors.
- Syrian nationals are expected to make up at least 75% of the total workforce, including technical and managerial roles, with structured training provided by Tiryaki Agro.
- The signing ceremony included representatives from both organizations, among them H.E. Mr. Mazen Al-Salhani, Chairman of the Syrian Sovereign Fund, and Mr. Hashem Shashaa, Country Manager of Tiryaki Syria.
A Major Processing Facility Takes Shape in Syria
Tiryaki Syria, operating under Tiryaki Anadolu — a wholly owned subsidiary of Tiryaki Agro — has signed a cooperation agreement with the Syrian Sovereign Fund to build a large-scale agricultural processing facility in Syria. The deal covers a 10-year operational period and targets around USD 500 million in annual processing output.
The planned facility will operate across Syria's edible oil, food, feed, poultry, and livestock sectors. Annual throughput is set at approximately 300,000 tonnes of soybeans and 100,000 tonnes of sunflower seeds — volumes expected to contribute to Syria's food security and the development of integrated agri-food supply chains.
The agreement was signed in the presence of H.E. Mr. Mazen Al-Salhani, Chairman of the Syrian Sovereign Fund; Mr. Basel Ayyoub, Head of the Food and Feed Sector at the Fund; and Mr. Hashem Shashaa, Country Manager of Tiryaki Syria, along with representatives from the Fund's legal and finance departments.
Tiryaki Agro Brings Decades of Commodity Experience
Tiryaki Agro has more than 60 years of experience in agricultural sourcing, logistics, and operations management. Headquartered in Türkiye, the company runs 30 production, processing, and storage facilities across 11 locations on four continents. It sources from 40 countries and delivers roughly 6 million tonnes of product each year to customers in 50 countries. Tiryaki Agro also holds a majority stake in Sunrise Foods International, a distributor specializing in organic feed and oilseeds.
Under the cooperation framework, the company will provide technical expertise and operational support for the Syrian facility from the outset.
Workforce Development as a Core Commitment
A key element of the agreement is local employment. Syrian nationals are expected to fill at least 75% of all positions, covering both technical and managerial roles. Tiryaki Agro will run structured training and capacity-building programmes so that local staff can independently manage, operate, and commercialize the facility's output over time.
This focus on workforce localization positions the project as a long-term economic initiative, going beyond infrastructure investment to support Syria's broader agricultural recovery following years of conflict-related disruption to its food systems and supply chains.
