Damascus, SANA-Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry for Domestic Trade Affairs, Engineer Maher Khalil al-Hassan, signed Thursday a strategic partnership framework agreement with the World Food Programme (WFP), aiming to enhance food security and develop the infrastructure for the food production and distribution sector in Syria.

“The partnership with the World Food Programme constitutes an important pillar in supporting the national economy and local production’ Engineer Al-Hassan said after the signing, stressing that the agreement represents a shift from relief work to an integrated development path, and will contribute to the transition from planning to actual implementation. In addition, he stressed the need to focus in the next stage on raising the efficiency and quality of food production.

For her part, Marianne Ward, WFP Country Director for Syria, affirmed the programme’s commitment to continuing to support national institutions, noting that the programme has so far contributed to the rehabilitation of 25 bakeries, the support of one silo, and the development of one mill.

The two parties also agreed to establish a joint coordination platform to exchange information, facilitate technical assessments, and identify priority projects, which will contribute to improving planning efficiency and meeting actual needs in the food security sector.

Reem Abdulhameed / Frdaa