Damascus, April 27 (Petra) -- Jordan and Syria are stepping up efforts to build a closer agricultural partnership, with a focus on boosting joint investments and strengthening food security in both countries.

During talks in Damascus, Jordan Chamber of Commerce President Khalil Al-Haj and Syrian Agriculture Minister Amjad Badr explored ways to turn shared agricultural strengths into practical cooperation. The discussions highlighted opportunities for joint projects in areas such as livestock production, animal feed, and farmland development.

Al-Haj emphasized that both countries bring valuable experience to the table, which could be combined to create more efficient and sustainable agricultural systems. He pointed out that Jordan’s diversified, year-round crop production complements Syria’s role as a key supplier of certain food products, including legumes and fresh meat.

As part of the next steps, plans are underway to organize a joint agricultural business forum in Syria. The event is expected to bring together private sector representatives and industry groups to identify investment opportunities and lay the groundwork for long-term partnerships.

Minister Badr welcomed the initiative, underscoring Syria’s readiness to expand cooperation with Jordan and remove any barriers that might affect agricultural trade. He also noted ongoing coordination between the two countries to formalize cooperation through a memorandum of understanding and specialized joint teams.

The Syrian side expressed particular interest in learning from Jordan’s expertise in modern farming techniques, agricultural advisory services, and small-scale rural production, especially initiatives led by women.

Jordan’s ambassador to Damascus, Sufian Al-Qudah, reaffirmed that agricultural cooperation is part of a broader, well-established relationship between the two countries. He stressed that closer coordination in food production and supply is increasingly important, especially given ongoing disruptions in global supply chains.

Overall, both sides signaled a clear intention to move from dialogue to implementation, aiming to build a more integrated and resilient agricultural partnership.

//Petra//WH