Türkiye and Bulgaria plan new border gate
The project is being coordinated by the Turkish ministry, with legal and technical preparations underway between the two countries.
Delegations led by Turkish Deputy Trade Minister Sezai Ucarmak and Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev met at Kapikule on Sept. 10 to discuss the proposed crossing and measures to reduce long queues at existing border points.
The delegations also inspected the planned site for the new customs gate.
Faster route for European trade
The additional crossing is expected to help exporters move goods more quickly toward European markets and reduce pressure on the region’s busiest border points.
Trade Minister Omer Bolat said the Bulgarian parliament had sent Türkiye a draft agreement on establishing the additional crossing.
“This will be very important for our transport to Europe and will allow new commercial shipments,” Bolat said.
The project is expected to complement the existing Kapikule, Hamzabeyli and Ipsala crossings, which together handled 4.86 million vehicle crossings in 2025, accounting for about 47.2% of Türkiye’s 10.31 million total border crossings that year, according to Trade Ministry data.
Customs system faces modernization
Bolat said improving customs procedures, delivery times, logistics capacity and border infrastructure remains a government priority.
Türkiye is also pursuing greater digitalization, greener transport operations and modern customs practices to improve the efficiency of international trade.
The country currently operates 1,124 bonded warehouses, including 747 type A and B facilities and 377 type C and E facilities, providing storage for goods involved in international trade.
Gulf tensions add trade risks
Bolat also warned that ongoing conflict in the Gulf is creating additional risks for international logistics, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.
He said disruptions around the strategic waterway had contributed to sharp increases in energy and petrochemical prices, potentially adding inflationary pressure and disrupting global trade routes.
“Our wish is for the war in the Gulf to end as soon as possible,” Bolat said.
The proposed Türkiye-Bulgaria crossing is intended to strengthen the land route to Europe while easing pressure on existing border infrastructure used by millions of passengers and commercial vehicles each year.
Source:AA
