The Damascus Countryside Chamber of Agriculture received today the Italian Ambassador to Syria, Stefano Ravagnan, during a field visit to a model nursery in the Damascus countryside. The visit aimed to discuss prospects for agricultural cooperation between the two countries and to review pioneering experiences in producing seedlings, ornamental plants, and fruit trees.Ambassador Ravagnan emphasized the importance of translating the outcomes of joint meetings between the Syrian and Italian sides into practical steps and tangible projects, particularly in the agricultural sector. He noted that the launch of commercial trade in the field of ornamental plants represents a promising start to strengthening economic and agricultural cooperation between both nations.He explained that previous meetings with the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Agriculture and the Damascus Countryside Chamber of Agriculture yielded positive results. Expressing pride in initiating the first steps of commercial cooperation in ornamental plants, he affirmed his country's aspiration to expand joint agricultural projects, thereby supporting the Syrian agricultural sector and transferring modern expertise and technologies in the coming period.For his part, the Chairman of the Damascus Countryside Chamber of Agriculture, Mohammad Jannan, clarified that the visit comes as a follow-up to the outcomes of prior meetings with the Italian side. It also served to inspect one of the model nurseries, which represents a distinguished national benchmark in producing seedlings, trees, and ornamental plants, contributing to supporting vegetation cover and developing agricultural production.Jannan pointed out that the joint cooperation has already resulted in importing the first shipment of fruit trees from Italy. He noted that new steps are currently underway to expand areas of agricultural cooperation, including introducing new plant varieties, developing nurseries, and utilizing Italian expertise in plant propagation and agricultural production.He stressed that the agricultural sector in Syria currently needs support regarding agricultural production requirements, such as seeds, seedlings, modern technologies, and production inputs. This would improve production quality, reduce costs for farmers, increase the competitiveness of Syrian agricultural products—especially vegetables and fruits—and enhance their marketing and export opportunities to foreign markets.On his end, Mr. Haitham Mouadamani announced that a project specialized in ornamental plants will be opened soon. This step aims to diversify agricultural production, support the cultivation of economically viable plants, and open new horizons for agricultural investment, which will enhance the value added of the agricultural sector and contribute to achieving sustainable agricultural development.This visit comes within the framework of strengthening Syrian-Italian agricultural cooperation and following up on the implementation of joint initiatives aimed at developing nurseries, introducing new varieties of trees and plants, and supporting production inputs, thereby raising the efficiency of the agricultural sector and expanding the horizons of trade and investment exchange between the two countries
25/7/2026
