Jordan to sign agricultural agreement with Lebanon
Xinhua
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BEIRUT, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Syndicate of Farmers in Lebanon's Bekaa announced on Monday that the Jordanian agriculture minister will visit Lebanon in October to sign an agricultural agreement, local media reported.

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File photo: VCG

The agreement aimed at facilitating the export of Lebanese agricultural products to Jordan, said Elnashra, an online independent newspaper. 

"Jordan will give priority to Lebanon when it comes to buying any of its agricultural needs," the syndicate announced in a statement, according to Elnashra. 

The syndicate's statement comes following a visit by a Lebanese delegation to Jordan to hold talks with Jordanian officials about agricultural ties between the two countries.

The syndicate said that Jordan vowed to facilitate the entry of Lebanese agricultural products to Jordan and the rest of the Arab countries through land borders without inspection.

Lebanese farmers have previously suffered from inability to export products by land to Arab countries because of the closure of Nasib border following heavy clashes between rebel fighters, who encircled the Nasib crossing, and Syrian government forces near the area.

As the only functioning crossing between Jordan and Syria, Nasib is vital for goods transport from Lebanon and Syria to Jordan and the Gulf states.

Nasib border re-opened later but Lebanese farmers' hopes for an increase in their exports were dashed as Syria imposed additional fees on each container that crosses its borders.

In the statement, the syndicate called upon the Lebanese government to follow up with Syrian authorities to cancel the imposed fees on Lebanese cars that pass through Syria to facilitate exports of Lebanon's products.