Turkey’s Trade Minister, Ruhsar Pekcan, announced on 9 November at the Parliament’s Plan and Budget Commission that a new customs gate along the Turkish-Syrian border was launched; Olive Branch Customs Gate crossing to northwestern Syrian city of Afrin became operational on 8 November. The new customs gate was named after Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch, which was launched on 20 January to free Afrin of ISIS terrorists which was liberated in March. Tufenkci noted that the gate will speed up the delivery of humanitarian aid to Afrin, meet the infrastructure needs of the region and will also contribute to the promotion of trade in the region.