Lebanese Prime Minister Mr Nawaf Salam received at the Grand Serail the Minister of Agriculture Mr Nizar Hani, accompanied by a CIHEAM delegation led by its President Ms Frida Krifca. Also attending were Mr Teodoro Miano, Secretary General; Ms Wafaa El Dikah Hamzé, Vice-President and CIHEAM Delegate of Lebanon; Mr Maurizio Raeli, Delegate of Italy to CIHEAM; as well as the Directors of the CIHEAM Institutes of Bari, Mr Biagio Di Terlizzi, Montpellier, Mr Thierry Dupeuble, and Zaragoza, Mr Raúl Compès.

The meeting provided an opportunity to present the activities of the CIHEAM in the Mediterranean and to discuss projects in the fields of agricultural innovation, rural development, and the strengthening of partnerships in support of the sector.

It was followed by a working session with the Minister of Agriculture, focused on national priorities and possible areas of cooperation with CIHEAM institutes, notably in training, applied research, and support for value chains.

Earlier in the morning, a working session was held at the Lebanese University, chaired by Professor Bassam Badran. On this occasion, the CIHEAM Zaragoza and the University signed an academic partnership agreement, thus paving the way for enhanced academic exchanges, joint training and shared research projects for the benefit of students and stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

This official sequence took place on the eve of the first meeting of CIHEAM Lebanese Alumni.