Syria`s Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Riad Hijab discussed Tuesday with Iranian Agriculture Assistant Minister Mohammad Reza Shafei best means to activate the agricultural cooperation between the two countries.

Minister Hijab stressed that the standing strategic relations between Syria and Iran are becoming stronger, pointing out to the importance of activating the agreements signed between the two sides, Syria state-run SANA news agency reported.

He also called for increasing cooperation at agricultural scientific research fields and at exchanging experiences between Syria & Iran too.

For his part, Iranian Agriculture Assistant Minister Reza Shafei stressed that his visit to Syria is to complete the signed agreements and increase the volume of trade exchange between the two countries.

Iranian firms are currently carrying out different projects in Syria, such as constructing cement factory, hydroelectric power plants, glass factory, and silos.
The two countries’ trade value (excluding technical and engineering services exports) stood at $336 million last year, the IRNA news agency reported.

As long-time allies in the region, Iran has provided Syria with economic assistance in the past years to counter international isolation and economic sanctions on the Middle East nation. The two countries have recently signed a series of agreements on economic cooperation to help Syria withstand new pressures.

Syria last week had decided to reduce customs duties on Syrian goods to Iran by 60 percent in an attempt to scale down the effect of economic sanctions by the United States and other Western countries.