Baghdad:Minister of Agriculture Abdul Rahim Al-Shammari engaged in discussions on Sunday with his Lebanese counterpart, Nizar Hani, to explore cooperative opportunities in various agricultural fields.

According to Iraqi News Agency, the meeting focused on expanding agricultural cooperation and was attended by Lebanon’s Ambassador to Baghdad, Khalil Abdullah Mohammed, several Lebanese investors, and various ministry officials and specialists. Among the attendees were the Director General of the Mesopotamia General Company for Seeds and the Director General of the Planning and Follow-up Department.

Key topics included collaboration in the export of dates, grain production development, workforce capacity building, and the coordination of the agricultural calendar between Iraq and Lebanon. Additionally, cooperation in the livestock sector was examined. During the meeting, Al-Shammari received an invitation to visit Lebanon to further discuss agricultural projects and opportunities.

Al-Shammari emphasized Iraq’s dedication to strengthening agricultural ties with Lebanon, aiming for increased exchange, expertise sharing, and investment that would benefit both nations. The Lebanese minister, Nizar Hani, highlighted the importance of activating joint cooperation frameworks, specifically the quadrilateral agreement that includes Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon, to boost agricultural integration among these countries.

To facilitate this collaboration, Al-Shammari announced the formation of a high-level committee to oversee cooperation with Lebanon, identify opportunities, and develop proposals to achieve significant results for the agricultural sector.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts, reflecting the fraternal relationship between Iraq and Lebanon and their commitment to expanding agricultural and economic cooperation.