Damascus, July 23 (SANA)Agriculture Minister Baselal-Suwaidansigned a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday with Biagio Di Terlizzi, Director of Italy’s Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM Bari), to strengthen institutional development, promote the sustainable management of natural resources, and expand development cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The signing ceremony was attended by Italian Ambassador to SyriaStefano Ravagnan.

Under the memorandum, the two sides will cooperate in training and capacity building, education, scientific research and innovation, technology transfer, sustainable management of natural and environmental resources, and the development of food systems and value chains.

Al-Suwaidan said the ministry looks forward to expanding cooperation with the Italian government and private sector to support agricultural infrastructure projects, encourage investment, and provide modern agricultural equipment, including tractors, harvesters, and irrigation systems, through concessional financing for farmers.

He also highlighted the investment potential of Syria’s eastern region, inviting Italian private sector companies, particularly those specializing in fertilizers and modern agricultural equipment, to explore investment opportunities that would contribute to agricultural development and enhance the competitiveness of Syrian products in international markets.

Di Terlizzi told SANA that the institute is committed to strengthening cooperation with Syria through an institutional framework that expands technical and agricultural collaboration. He said joint efforts will include training and capacity building, research projects, expertise exchange, and support for quality control centers in the health and veterinary sectors.

He added that the partnership would pave the way for cooperation between Italian and Syrian private companies, noting that the first joint projects will focus on the olive, olive oil, and wheat sectors with funding from the Italian Cooperation Programme. He also noted that CIHEAM Bari operates under the supervision of Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, enabling it to implement programmes that support the priorities of both sides.

CIHEAM Bari is one of four institutes affiliated with the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), an intergovernmental organization established in 1962 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Council of Europe to promote cooperation in agriculture, food security, and rural development across the Mediterranean region.