Wuhan, China, 27 October 2017. The 3rd Training and Study Tour for Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors and the 3rd Member Meeting of the Regional Council of Agricultural Machinery Associations (ReCAMA) has ended with a vibrant closing ceremony in Wuhan, China.
 
ReCAMA is an initiative led by the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to promote sustainable agricultural mechanization in Asia and the Pacific by strengthening capacities and networking amongst national agricultural machinery associations. The 3rd ReCAMA Training and Study Tour was co-organized by CSAM and the Centre of International Cooperation Service of the Ministry of Agriculture of China with the support of the China Agricultural Machinery Distribution Association. Targeted at key stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region, this year’s tour focused on precision agriculture and harvesting technologies for rice and maize.
 
The Training and Study Tour deepened the understanding of 37 participants coming from 11 countries on various dimensions of sustainable agricultural mechanization and enhanced business connections among them, receiving very positive response. The programme included three insightful seminars delivered by established agricultural mechanization experts from China, and visits to four leading Chinese enterprises specialized in agricultural machinery in Shijiazhuang, Zhenjiang, Danyang, and Huzhou. In order to maximize international exposure for the participants, the programme also included participation in the Agrievolution Summit 2017 and the China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition (CIAME) 2017 in Wuhan.
 
In addition, the 3rd Member Meeting of ReCAMA was held in Wuhan on 27 October 2017.
The event was co-organized by CSAM and three Member Associations from China, namely the China Agricultural Machinery Distribution Association, China Agricultural Mechanization Association, and China Association of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers.
 
In the Member Meeting, a team of experts presented findings of a ReCAMA Research Paper on Trade and Investment Policies in 5 case countries, namely China, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The Council approved and welcomed the participation of two new members, namely Malaysian Farmers Organization Authority (LPP) and Turkish Association of Agricultural Machinery & Equipment Manufacturers (TARMAKBİR). The Member Meeting also reviewed and endorsed the work report of ReCAMA in 2017, and explored research and training areas that the Regional Council should focus on in the coming year.

Welcoming the participants at the opening of the 3rd Member Meeting, Mr. Tang Shengyao, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, highlighted that under the umbrella of the Belt and Road Initiative and other pertinent initiatives, China is looking forward to deepening relevant cooperation with all the stakeholders in the region.
 
Commenting on the fruitful results of the Training and Study Tour and the Member Meeting, Ms. Li Yutong, Head of CSAM, said “Engagement of the private sector is critical for scaling up sustainable technologies and models based on a demand-driven approach. Through the ReCAMA initiative in general and the events from 18-28 Oct 2017 in particular, CSAM seeks to help strengthen the capacities of representatives from private sector agricultural machinery associations as well as promote networking, thus contributing to the related Sustainable Development Goals.”