Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon discuss signing agreements on agricultural integration

Activities of the quadrilateral meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon started on Sunday in Amman with the aim of enhancing Arab relations and achieving Arab agricultural integration.

Syria’s Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Mohammad Hassan Qatana said in a statement that the meeting supports the four countries’ efforts to draw up a work plan that leads to boosting Arab relations and it completes what has been achieved in Iraq, then in Lebanon and now in Jordan with the aim of signing memorandums of understanding that have been agreed on to serve the countries’ common interest in agricultural integration and to facilitate inter-trade movement.

Qatana pointed out that the previously signed agreements have had a direct positive effect on cooperation between these countries, clarifying that today’s meeting aims at discussing the signing of  agreements that draw a road map leading to consolidating joint scientific research in the domains of natural resources, plant and animal production, agricultural management and marketing agricultural production.

He called on the Arab countries to join this quadrilateral alliance, as Arab agricultural integration is a chance for each country to test its ability to achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural products which is a means to achieve inter-Arab food security.

He also called for finding innovative solutions for the problems facing agriculture in the Arab region and for investing in the points of strength.

Qatana noted the importance of reaching clear work program to facilitate the passage of agricultural products to the four countries and then to other countries of the world.

Hamda Mustafa