Amman, Sept. 16 (Petra) — President of the Jordan Chamber of
Commerce and Amman Chamber of Commerce, Khalil Haj Tawfiq, on
Wednesday called for closer agricultural integration among Jordan,
Lebanon, and Syria, saying a coordinated food system could strengthen
regional trade and contribute to food security.

Speaking during a meeting with Lebanese Agriculture Minister Nizar
Hani at the chamber’s headquarters, Haj Tawfiq said the three
countries could capitalize on their agricultural strengths by
coordinating production seasons, diversifying supplies, and
developing complementary products.

Rather than competing in the same markets with similar products at
the same time, the countries could build an integrated system around
their comparative advantages and different production seasons, he
said.

Haj Tawfiq also pointed to opportunities for agricultural investment
and complementary industries, as well as the potential to exchange
food surpluses beyond domestic needs, which could help lower costs
and maintain market supplies.

He called for stronger ties between Jordanian and Lebanese
private-sector institutions and greater use of untapped trade
opportunities. Jordan, he said, could serve as a gateway for Lebanese
products to new export markets through its trade agreements with
various economic blocs.

Agricultural products account for the bulk of certificates of origin
issued by the Amman Chamber for exports to Lebanon this year, with
510 of the 646 certificates issued since the beginning of 2026
covering mainly mixed vegetables and fruits, agricultural seeds, and
dates.

Haj Tawfiq stressed the need for closer coordination with the
Lebanese private sector and new mechanisms to deepen economic ties,
particularly in agriculture, saying the Amman Chamber was ready to
play a larger role in promoting such cooperation.

Hani said the two countries should build on their strong political
relations and close people-to-people ties by expanding economic
cooperation in agriculture, industry, and trade, adding that the
coming period was expected to see broader bilateral economic
activity.

He highlighted the potential for closer coordination in agricultural
production and trade to better serve farmers and markets in both
countries. Lebanon’s potato sector, he said, offers an example of how
agricultural output can be divided between fresh consumption and food
processing, creating greater added value.

Hani also stressed the need for neighboring countries to coordinate
the movement of agricultural products and avoid overlapping
production seasons that could negatively affect farmers. He proposed
developing a joint Jordanian-Lebanese agricultural calendar covering
production seasons, market demand, trade opportunities, and
processing activities.

He further proposed a specialized Jordanian-Lebanese economic meeting
bringing together relevant institutions and private-sector
representatives, with agriculture and food industries given priority.
The meeting would seek to develop practical agreements and joint
projects that promote integration rather than competition.

Hani invited Jordanian companies to participate in Agri Lebanon 2026,
which will be held in Beirut from Nov. 26-28, saying the event could
facilitate specialized meetings between Jordanian and Lebanese
businesses and provide a platform to discuss agricultural
integration, including production, processing, marketing, and a joint
agricultural calendar.

The exhibition brings together farmers, companies, suppliers,
experts, and government institutions and covers seeds and
fertilizers, irrigation systems, smart agriculture, greenhouses,
agricultural equipment and machinery, packaging and food processing,
livestock, and poultry.

Jordanian exports to Lebanon totaled about JD54 million in the first
half of 2026, compared with JD34 million in imports. Exports included
medicines and plant products, particularly dates, as well as aluminum
and aluminum products and food-industry products.

As of mid-September, 229 Lebanese business partners were registered
with the Amman Chamber, with combined registered capital of about
JD56 million. Their activities span several sectors, mainly services
and consulting, construction, financial and banking services,
telecommunications and information technology, and health and
pharmaceuticals.

//Petra// AJ