Syria-Lebanon Agreement on Expanding Trade Exchange of Agricultural Products

Damascus,(ST)- Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Dr. Abdullah al-Gharbi and Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Ghazi Zu’aiter discussed here on Thursday means of developing economic cooperation and trade relations between Syria and Lebanon.

 The meeting was attended by the Secretary-General of the Syrian-Lebanese Supreme Council Nasri Khoury, who signed the minutes of the talks, which included that the two sides have to work to facilitate the flow of agricultural products and agricultural production requirements and remove all obstacles to the flow of these goods, in accordance to the laws and regulations in force in both countries and to supply Syrian markets with bananas and potatoes and restrict their importation in the Syrian Trading Establishment from the Syrian side and restrict the exportation to one party from the Lebanese side at the request of the Syrian side.

  The minute also ensures that the flow of live animals and products of red meat and poultry and their supplies of feed, vaccines and veterinary medicines are facilitated in accordance with the laws, regulations and legislation related to veterinary quarantine in both countries.

 The two sides agreed to work to facilitate the transit traffic in both countries and to cancel all obstacles and facilitate import permits for agricultural and animal goods in exchange for trade exchange taking into account the protection of farms in both countries.

 The two sides discussed ways of implementing the agreements signed between the two countries on the basis of the Treaty of Brotherhood, Cooperation and Coordination of 1991 and to start looking for mechanisms and means that would achieve economic, agricultural and commercial integration and marketing of agricultural products to Arab and foreign markets and the establishment of industrial food projects and joint companies to ensure the needs of citizens of the two countries of various commodities and materials food and export the surplus.

 The discussions focused on the need to start ways to expand the trade exchange of agricultural products, especially vegetables and fruits according to the needs of both countries and according to the methods and laws governing the Lebanese side expressed his desire to export bananas and potatoes to Syria.

 The two sides stressed the need to think about the necessary plans to develop the economic and commercial reality and expand the agricultural production of both countries through the search for mechanisms to ensure the products and agricultural and food industries competition and access to foreign markets.

 The Lebanese side thanked Syria for its permanent assistance to Lebanon and to the owners of the Lebanese economic activities and to provide them with all necessary facilities to activate the export and import of their products and their disposal through Syria. 

 Mr. Khoury pointed to the need to activate the bilateral agreements signed between Syria and Lebanon for the benefit of the two peoples and their security and stability.

 Sh. Kh.