Madrid: Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani made a significant visit to the Lebanese pavilion at the "Fruit Attraction" International Exhibition in Madrid, marking a confident return for Lebanon to the international agricultural scene.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the minister's visit was warmly received by prominent figures including Raphael Debbane, Chairman of the Agricultural Committee of the Federation of Lebanese Chambers of Commerce, Mohammad Saleh, Chairman of the Sidon and South Chamber of Commerce, and Imad Riachi, Director of the Export Project funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Ren© Moawad Foundation. The event was also attended by Lebanese expatriates and a delegation of around sixty businessmen, farmers, and exporters.
In his remarks, Debbane highlighted the Ministry of Agriculture's support for the private sector and stressed the importance of collaborative initiatives to enhance Lebanon's international presence and expand export opportunities. He referred to the exhibition as a "renewed message of confidence in Lebanon's agricultural capacity to shine globally."
Minister Hani emphasized that the visit was part of a national strategy to boost agricultural diplomacy and access foreign markets. He noted Lebanon's persistent presence on the global agricultural stage, crediting the dedication of its farmers and exporters to innovation and excellence. The minister described the participation as a message of hope, expressing Lebanon's commitment to forging strategic partnerships with countries such as Spain to enhance agricultural capabilities and global positioning.
During his tour of the exhibition, Minister Hani reviewed a variety of Lebanese agricultural products and praised their quality and global market reputation. He stressed the competitive potential of Lebanese agriculture, underscoring producers' adherence to high standards.
The visit also included a field trip to Mercamadrid, Europe's largest wholesale market. Accompanied by the Lebanese delegation, Minister Hani toured the market and examined its advanced traceability systems. He emphasized Lebanon's aim to adopt similar models to ensure product quality and competitiveness in international markets.
In a meeting with Marisa Ramos C³rdoba, Secretary General of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, and other officials, an agreement was reached to draft a memorandum of understanding between the two countries. The memorandum will focus on cooperation in forest policies, sustainable resource management, agricultural production tracking, market regulation, capacity building, and updating agricultural education curricula.