Agriculture Minister Meets Iraqi Delegation

Damascus, (ST)-Agriculture Minister Ahmed Qadri confirmed the importance of agricultural joint cooperation between Syria and Iraq especially to achieve economic integration between the two countries to facilitate the flow of goods, especially the Syrian agricultural products including citrus, vegetables, potatoes and eggs.

The minister, during the meeting, said that the agricultural sector is the real lever for development in the two countries, praising the insistence of the Syrian farmer to continue the production process and the implementation of agricultural plans to achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural products, despite the great difficulties.

He also discussed with the Iraqi delegation ways to facilitate the flow of products between the two countries and to find alternatives for the crossing, increase trade and technical cooperation between Syria and Iraq.

Head of the Iraqi Federation of Peasants Associations, Dr. Hassan al-Tamimi said that trade exchange between Iraq and Syria is a necessity and the fact that the two countries are considered one country.

Dr. al -Tamimi stressed the need to ensure a new crossing for the exchange of goods, especially agricultural ones, which are the backbone of food security in the two countries, noting that the purpose of the delegation’s visit is to activate the alternatives and signing agreements that achieve economic integration between the two countries.

For his part, Head of the Iraqi General Federation of Peasants said, “The peasants in Syria formed with the workers in the Ministry of Agriculture one team to face the great challenge that the agriculture sector suffered that achieved a balance in agricultural production,” referring to the need of cooperation with the Iraqi side to achieve development in the two countries.

Secretary-General of the Federation of Arab Peasants pointed to the importance of finding future visions for the development of relations between the two countries, especially with regard to the agricultural side.

Sh. Kh