On the morning of February 28 local time, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar met with the Sinomach Hainan Agricultural Technology delegation at the Presidential Palace in Antananarivo, marking a new phase of collaboration in agricultural technology between the two sides. The meeting aimed to deepen cooperation and advance Madagascar’s goals of achieving food self-sufficiency and modernizing its agricultural sector. Malagasy officials present included Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Harison Edmond Randriarimanana, Secretary of State for Food Sovereignty Ralambosoa Lazanamahahefa, and Chief of Staff of the Presidential Office Elisa Rakotonirina.

President Rajoelina warmly welcomed the delegation and recalled his discussions with Sinomach Group Chairman Zhang Xiaolun and Sinomach Hainan Chairman Cai Jibo during the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. He expressed gratitude for Sinomach Hainan’s commitment to supporting Madagascar’s agricultural modernization and looked forward to fruitful outcomes from the partnership.

The Sinomach Hainan delegation comprised senior agricultural experts from Sinomach Hainan, the Farmland Irrigation Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute. During their visit, the delegation also met with Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar Ji Ping and Malagasy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yvette Sylla.

In the afternoon, Malagasy Foreign Minister Yvette Sylla presided over the signing ceremony for agricultural technology cooperation between Sinomach Hainan and the Malagasy government. Representatives from Sinomach Hainan and Minister Harison Randriarimanana jointly signed agreements to advance agricultural collaboration, with Secretary of State Lazanamahahefa witnessing the ceremony.

In her remarks, Foreign Minister Sylla highlighted the significance of the partnership. She emphasized that the agreement aligns with the consensus reached by the leaders of China and Madagascar during the Beijing Summit and builds on productive discussions between President Rajoelina and Sinomach leadership.

Sylla noted that the signing marks a concrete step in agricultural cooperation between Madagascar and Sinomach Hainan, injecting new momentum into Madagascar’s agricultural development and strengthening China-Madagascar relations. The collaboration not only reflects the pragmatic spirit of bilateral ties but also supports broader efforts to modernize agriculture and enhance food security across Africa.

Following the ceremony, representatives from both sides engaged with Malagasy media to elaborate on the cooperation’s specifics and future plans.

As the Hainan regional headquarters of Sinomach Group—aFortune Global 500 enterprise—Sinomach Hainan will leverage its expertise in agricultural technology to drive Madagascar’s agricultural modernization and support its food security objectives. Moving forward, the company plans to expand agricultural value chains, collaborate with domestic and international partners, and explore agricultural projects in other African nations. These efforts aim to introduce Chinese agricultural machinery and technology to Africa, fostering regional agricultural modernization and deepening Sino-African cooperation.