In 1988, following the pursuit of reforms from centralized planning to a social market-oriented economy and greater integration into regional and international markets, the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MAAR) requested the assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The Italian Cooperation decided to support FAO's cooperation with Syria on this subject and provided sustained resources for this undertaking.
Under the FAO-Italy Cooperative Program, two successive projects were implemented: Project GCP/SYR/002/ITA (June 1995-September 1996) focusing on the development of specific capacities through in-service training, and Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA (April 1998 – on-going) adopting an integrated approach to capacity and institutional development focusing on the setting up and development of the National Agricultural Policy Center (NAPC).
FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA © FAO 2006