Damascus, Sept. 21 (SANA) Syria and Saudi Arabia are working on a joint agricultural strategy and exploring Saudi financing for agricultural projects as the two countries seek to expand cooperation on food security and investment.
Agriculture Minister Basel al-Suwaidan discussed the plans on Monday with Saudi Ambassador to Syria Ghazi al-Enezi during talks focused on strengthening agricultural cooperation and supporting joint investments and projects, the Agriculture Ministry said on its Telegram channel.
Al-Suwaidan said meetings with the Saudi side were continuing with the aim of strengthening cooperation and supporting food security in both countries.
He said work was underway to develop a joint strategy in this area, alongside meetings with relevant Saudi authorities and the Saudi Fund for Development to explore the possibility of financing and implementing a number of agricultural projects.
Al-Suwaidan also highlighted the importance of cooperation on agricultural inputs, pointing to a memorandum of understanding on harmonizing requirements for pesticides and fertilizers registered and approved in Saudi Arabia and the potential positive impact on Syria’s agricultural sector.
Agricultural investment and food security
Al-Enezi said agricultural investment was directly linked to people’s livelihoods, highlighting the importance of Syria’s agricultural sector and its role in strengthening food security and supporting economic development.
He expressed Saudi Arabia’s readiness to cooperate with Syria in various areas of the agricultural sector, saying there were opportunities to strengthen partnerships, exchange expertise and benefit from the capabilities available in both countries.
In June, al-Suwaidan met Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen al-Fadhli on the sidelines of Saudi Water Week in Jeddah, where they discussed ways to strengthen agricultural and water cooperation between the two countries.
T.S /M.F
