Damascus, Aug. 2 (SANA)Syrian Minister of Agriculture Basil al-Suwaidan met on Sunday with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Egyptian Embassy in Damascus, Mohamed El-Feki, to discuss ways to strengthen agricultural cooperation and expand partnership opportunities between the two countries.

During the meeting, al-Suwaidan said that Syria possesses significant agricultural potential and vast arable lands, noting that work continues to clear dirt barricades and mines to return affected lands to production.

The Minister identified key challenges facing the sector, including the need to keep pace with modern agricultural technologies in pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation systems, adding that the ministry is updating investment laws to protect investors and direct capital toward agriculture.

Al-Suwaidanhighlighted focus areas such as developing agricultural laboratories, linking farmers with investors for modern irrigation funding, expanding advanced irrigation techniques, and encouraging contract farming to protect products and support sustainable production.

He also noted the potential to benefit from Egypt’s experience in combating the invasive water hyacinth weed in the Orontes River.

For his part,El-Fekiaffirmed the deep ties between the two nations and expressed Egypt’s readiness to exchange expertise and enhance cooperation to serve mutual interests.