October 6, 2026
Lebanon seeks to enhance the presence of its agricultural products in foreign markets and open new export channels, through broad official and sectoral participation in the activities of the “Fruit Attraction 2026” exhibition in the Spanish capital, Madrid, which is considered one of the most prominent international events specialized in the fruit and vegetable sector, and is scheduled to be held between October 6 and 8, with the participation of about 2,500 companies representing 78 countries, amid expectations of attracting more than 121,000 specialists from more than 150 countries.
In this context, the Minister of Agriculture, Nizar Hani, made an official visit to the exhibition, accompanied by the Lebanese Ambassador to Spain, Hani Chmaitelli, the Director General of Agriculture, Louis Lahoud, and his advisor, Fadi Ghanem. The delegation began its tour by inspecting the Lebanese pavilion, which includes 10 companies, associations and institutions operating in the production, packaging, export and agricultural services sectors, where it met representatives of the participating entities and was briefed on the products on display and the opportunities for cooperation available with international importers and distributors with the aim of building sustainable commercial partnerships.
The Minister of Agriculture stressed the need to go beyond the concept of traditional participation in exhibitions towards an integrated commercial strategy based on direct access to distribution networks, central markets and retail chains, leading to the signing of actual export contracts. He stressed that the competitiveness of the Lebanese product is no longer limited to the quality of the fruit alone, but rather requires a comprehensive system that includes sound agricultural practices, food safety, and standards for sorting, packaging and tracking, as well as strict adherence to the cold chain and health and technical specifications for each target market.
The Lebanese delegation’s tour included learning about the latest global trends in fruit and vegetable production, modern agricultural techniques, post-harvest management and logistics, in addition to the digital solutions adopted in supply chain management. Minister Hani also held a series of meetings with international merchants and importers, focusing on increasing the volume of Lebanese exports, expanding the buyer base, and exploring new markets.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, the Minister of Agriculture held a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Alaa Farouk, during which ways to enhance agricultural trade exchange between the two countries, facilitate the flow of products, and overcome the technical and logistical obstacles facing the intra-trade movement were discussed.
Hani stressed that the Ministry of Agriculture’s policy is based on two parallel tracks: raising productivity and quality on the one hand, and opening markets and building partnerships on the other hand, pointing out that the success of the agricultural sector is measured by the farmer’s ability to market his crop at fair prices that achieve a sustainable income.
At the conclusion of the tour, the Minister of Agriculture stressed that the Ministry will follow up on the outcomes of the Madrid meetings to translate the initial contacts into practical trade paths, considering that the true criterion for the success of this participation lies in achieving actual penetration into new markets and securing additional contracts and quantities for Lebanese exports.
