Syria’s Mair Group, NVSSoft food packaging deal opens UAE export transit via Iraq

SYRIA – Syria’s Agriculture Ministry has signed a food security MoU with UAE’s Mair Group and NVSSoft, establishing four agricultural packaging centers and creating a direct export transit route for Syrian produce to the UAE via an Iraq logistics corridor.

The agreement, signed by Minister Basel al-Suwaidan, establishes an integrated agricultural system covering production planning, financing, crop collection, grading, packaging, cold storage, domestic marketing and regional exports. 

A key focus is the development of four processing centers across Syria’s coastal, central, southern and eastern regions to prepare locally produced fruit and vegetables for export. NVSSoft will develop a digital platform to collect agricultural data, expand contract farming and improve supply chain efficiency from farms to international markets.

Four Regional Packaging Centers and Digital Platform Drive Export Readiness

Khaled Al-Saeedi, director of government communication at the Ministry of Agriculture, stated that the project will enable Syrian farmers to export fruit and vegetables directly to the UAE through a transit route via Iraq, eliminating intermediaries and reducing delivery times.

Nehayan Alameri, chief executive officer of Mair Group, confirmed the four centers will handle sorting and packaging to prepare Syrian produce for international markets. 

The initiative builds on broader Syrian-UAE logistics cooperation, with discussions underway to establish a logistics corridor connecting Syrian ports with Iraq’s Port of Umm Qasr, extending to Khalifa Port in the UAE. 

Syrian Transport Minister Yarub Badr noted that the country is pursuing several infrastructure initiatives, including plans to establish dry ports in Damascus, Aleppo and Homs.

UAE-Syria Agricultural Cooperation Expands Beyond Food Security

The agreement is part of broader Syrian-UAE efforts to expand agricultural investment, strengthen food security and deepen economic cooperation. 

This follows previous agreements with UAE’s Silal Group signed during Food Expo 2026, which included studies for agricultural investment projects and the purchase of at least 16,000 tons of potatoes for export to the UAE. 

The logistics corridor initiative aligns with the launch of a direct shipping service between Khalifa Port and Umm Qasr Port last week. 

Mohammad Samer Al-Suyouti, representing NVSSoft, noted the digital platform will collect agricultural data to raise the value of Syrian products and establish export methodologies aligned with international market requirements. 

Minister al-Suwaidan emphasized the importance of adopting modern agricultural technologies and contract farming to increase production and develop high-value crops.

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