A Training and Study Tour for Agricultural Machinery Distributor in Asia and the Pacific drew to a successfully closure on 4th August 2015. The week-long event was organized by CSAM in collaboration with the Centre of International Cooperation Service of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and China Agricultural Machinery Distribution Association (CAMDA) under the framework of the Regional Council of Agricultural Machinery Associations in Asia and the Pacific (ReCAMA).

With the aims of improving the management capacity of the agricultural machinery distributors and facilitating regional trade and investment, the Training gathered 17 participants from 8 countries, namely Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

The Training covered the good practices of agricultural machinery distribution network development and management, experience sharing of agricultural mechanization development, the comparative advantages and constraints of Chinese agricultural machinery products, as well as the testing and appraisal systems of agricultural machinery. The participants also visited the several agricultural machinery manufacturers, including Foton Lovol International Heavy Industry Co. Ltd, Weichai Holding Group Co. Ltd, and Zoomlion Heavy Machinery Co. Ltd.

According to the post training evaluation questionnaire, the participants were generally satisfied with the programme, contents and organization of the Training, and urged ReCAMA to play a bigger role in promoting regional trade and investment in Asia and the Pacific. The participants also suggested CSAM to organize more similar trainings and study tour regularly each year under ReCAMA with different focuses. 

The suggestions of the Training participants will be reflected in the draft workplan of ReCAMA, which will be presented to the 1st Annual Meeting of ReCAMA, to be held on 26-28 October 2015 in Qingdao, China during the 2015 China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibitions.