Syria takes part in the 36th session of the FAO Regional Conference in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Feb.7, (ST)-The 36th session of  the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East kicked off on Monday in Baghdad with the participation of Syria. 

 

The two-day event is being held under the slogan “ Recover and Restart: Innovations for better, greener and more resilient agrifood systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”. 

 

During the conference, ministers of agriculture, partner organizations, sister agencies and senior officials of member countries will meet to elaborate on regional challenges and priorities related to this topic in the NENA region. This will ensure the effectiveness of FAO’s impact in the region and will help in defining its work priorities for the next biennium. 

 

These priorities will be determined through engaging roundtable and panel discussions with all member countries to identify best practices to transform agrifood systems and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

 

On the sidelines of the conference, the Minister of Agriculture Mohammad Hassan Qatana reviewed with his Iraqi counterpart Mohammad Kareem Al-Khafaji the ways of developing cooperation relations between Syria and Iraq in the fields of scientific researches, plant and animal productivity and  fishing. 

 

Updating decisions on importation and exportation in the sector of agriculture and the problems that face exchanging agricultural products and transporting them  were also reviewed by the two sides.

 

Another meeting was held between Qatna and the Iraqi Minister of Trade Alaa Ahmad Al-Jabbori where the necessity of holding exhibition for Syrian products in Mosul was the main topic. 

 

The Syrian Minister also met with his Lebanese counterpart Abbas Al-Haj Hasan and discussed with him the ways of boosting bilateral cooperation. 

 

On 7 February, there will be a series of ministerial roundtables on issues of key importance for the future of the region’s agrifood systems. The purpose of the high-level discussions is to frame the deliberations and gather different perspectives from the member countries on priorities for action. 

 

This session will offer ministers the opportunity to provide their views on the subject, main areas for concern in the country, and how the country addresses these issues. The tangible outcome of the session will be a common vision on the way the countries of the region should address the issues, and opportunities for a joint action at regional level.

 

On 8 February, a side event will discuss climate action and regional opportunities in the context of the forthcoming COP 27 and COP28 that will take place in the region. 

 

Basma Qaddour