Rome-Global food commodity markets are well-balanced, buoyed by ample supplies of wheat and maize and rebounding production of oilseed products

However, rising shipping costs and larger import volumes are set to lift the global food import bill to more than USD 1.3 trillion this year, a 10.6 percent increase from 2016, FAO said today in its biannual Food Outlook.

The food import bills of least-developed countries, low-income food deficit countries and countries in sub-Saharan Africa are on course to rise even faster due to higher import volumes of meat, sugar, dairy and oilseed products.

Rising import bills are forecast for all food categories except for fish, for which growing domestic market demand in many developing countries is being increasingly met by robust growth in their local aquaculture sectors.

Damascus, (ST) -  Within the framework of preparations for the Damascus International Fair (DIF), the Head of the Syrian Exporters' Federation Mohammed Al-Sawah met with a number of businessmen in Kuwait representing a wide range of customers of specialized exhibitions and invited Kuwaiti companies to participate in the DIF.

Damascus, (ST) - Minister of Public Works and Housing Hussein Arnous met with the Chairman of the Syrian-European Heavy Industries Complex and a delegation representing the Chinese company "Sang Group".

During the meeting, talks dealt with prospects of cooperation in the fields of work of the ministry.

Mr. Arnous gave a hint about thework of the Ministry, particularly the establishment of residential suburbs through the General Establishment of Housing and studies carried out by the construction companies for most vital projects, services and infrastructure.

 DAMASCUS, (ST)- President Bashar Al-Assad on Thursday visited the "Made in Syria " Shopping Festival  at al-Jalaa sports complex in Mezzeh area in Damascus, according to the Syrian Presidency facebook page.

Some 180 industrial and commercial national companies are taking part in the event which is being held on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan by the Damascus and Damascus Countryside Chamber of Industry and Damascus Chamber of Commerce.

DAMASCUS- Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade issued a decision allowing countries and foreign companies participating in the upcoming Damascus International Fair to sell their exhibited items directly to local consumers during the Fair if they so desire, according to SANA.

The decision states that the countries and the companies have the right to sell part of their exhibited products including items whose import is restricted or limited to exclusive institutions, with the exception of tobacco, cars, jewelry, ornaments of all kinds, and used clothing.