The Lebanese Minister of Agriculture, Nizar Hani (on the left), and the Minister of Economy and Trade, Amer Bsat. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani will travel to Italy on Monday to represent Lebanon at an international conference on plant health in the Near East and North Africa, according to the state-run National News Agency.
The conference, held in the southern port city of Bari, will focus on combating cross-border plant diseases and pests that threaten food security in the region. Donor countries and international organizations are expected to participate in discussions on sustainable strategies.
While in Italy, Hani is also scheduled to hold meetings in Rome with his Italian counterpart and other officials to discuss agricultural cooperation, knowledge exchange and technical partnerships. His visit comes a week after he sought to reassure farmers in southern Lebanon amid ongoing Israeli military activity near the border.
Separately, Economy and Trade Minister Amer Bsat will head to Baghdad to take part in the fifth Arab Summit on Economic and Social Development, set for May 17. He will also chair a ministerial meeting of the Arab Economic and Social Council on Tuesday in preparation for the summit.
