Syria Focuses on Food Safety and Rural Development with EMBS
Syria’s Minister of Agriculture, Bassel Sweidan, has met with the chairwoman of EMBS for Administrative Engineering and Quality, Israa Hamdan, to discuss a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening food safety standards and advancing rural development across the country. The discussions centered on the ministry’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of agricultural products and streamline supply chains to ensure they meet modern safety requirements.
During the meeting, Minister Sweidan emphasized the ministry’s commitment to providing clean and safe agricultural products. He highlighted a legislative agenda focused on updating the regulations governing the import of fertilizers, pesticides, and veterinary medicines. By fostering a more competitive market environment and implementing rigorous monitoring and laboratory analysis protocols, the ministry aims to ensure that both domestic and export-bound produce meets high quality standards.
Sweidan underscored the vital role of agriculture as the primary feedstock for the nation’s food processing industries. He noted that Syrian agricultural products already possess significant quality, which enhances their potential in international markets. As part of its broader support for the rural economy, the ministry is prioritizing initiatives that empower rural women and provide small-scale producers with essential technical guidance. This support includes improving production processes, packaging, and marketing techniques, which collectively aim to increase the value added to rural goods and facilitate better market access for farmers.
To operationalize these goals, the minister announced that the ministry is prepared to establish a joint task force consisting of specialized directorates that will collaborate directly with EMBS. This team will be responsible for reviewing the proposed initiatives and drafting clear executive frameworks to implement the partnership effectively.
Hamdan, representing EMBS, presented an overview of the company’s capabilities and its specialized focus on administrative engineering, business development, and capacity building. The firm, which was established in 2022, provides comprehensive solutions for business integration, facility design, waste reduction, and professional training. According to the proposed collaboration roadmap, the company intends to provide targeted training for farmers and technical support for the ministry to help elevate administrative standards within the agricultural sector.
This collaboration aligns with the ministry’s broader goal of modernizing the agricultural sector through the integration of private-sector expertise in quality management and administrative development. By bridging the gap between traditional farming practices and modern administrative and quality-assurance systems, the partnership seeks to foster a more resilient and competitive agricultural landscape in Syria, ensuring that both internal food security and the export competitiveness of Syrian produce are significantly bolstered.
