Minister of Trade Omer Bolat attended the opening ceremony of the rebuilt Gurbulak Customs Gate in Dogubayazit, which connects Türkiye to Iran. Bolat said the gate will provide significant economic contribution and that Gurbulak, Türkiye's gateway to Asia, has been renovated, expanded and modernized.
Recalling that under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) program launched in 2003 has renewed 18 land customs gates, Bolat noted that Gurbulak comes online as the 19th. The investment exceeds 3 billion TL.
On Gurbulak's importance, Bolat said: "I believe that when the war in the Gulf ends, when an environment of peace emerges, together with Iran's development drive and the needs of regional countries, trade will increase and entries and exits will accelerate. We need our customs to be ready."
The minister said the gateway from Agri and Gurbulak to the world, Asia and neighboring countries will significantly serve Türkiye's foreign trade, and trade with neighboring countries will rise. The Gurbulak modernization strengthens Türkiye's transit capacity on the southeastern extension of the Middle Corridor and the trade routes reaching the Indian Ocean via Iran; for supply chains, shortening border crossing times and simplifying customs formalities will be decisive.
Key Takeaways:
1. Trade Minister Omer Bolat opened the new building of the Gurbulak Customs Gate.
2. Gurbulak is the 19th land customs gate modernized under the Build-Operate-Transfer model.
3. Total investment exceeds 3 billion TL.
4. Bolat said trade with Iran will rise once the war in the Gulf ends.
5. The modernization strengthens Türkiye's transit capacity on the southeast wing of the Middle Corridor.
