by Cesar Marino Garcia

BOGOTA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese companies specializing in developing soil, fertilizing crops, transporting freight and providing hi-tech solutions are "key allies" in the development of Colombia's agricultural sector, said Maria Alejandra Madrid, general manager of Agrilink, a strategic partner in organizing the country's Expo Agrofuturo trade fair.

Held in Bogota last week, Expo Agrofuturo 2026 showcased over 350 companies from 14 countries as some 14,000 people attended more than 2,000 business meetings to spur the agricultural sector.

Companies from China have participated in the past six editions of the expo and expanded its strong "exhibition capacity," Madrid told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"They have a well-executed strategy that has proven successful, as they have managed to boost business in Colombia" along with visitors from across Latin America, thanks to the fair's international reach, she said. "This is why Chinese companies have been such a vital ally over the past six years."

China had a "presence in every pavilion, categorized by specialty, as they address agricultural development from every angle," she said. "China is present in every ecosystem of the fair: in the machinery, services, agricultural inputs, and technology pavilions."

Productivity levels in Colombia's agricultural sector represent an area with a good opportunity to continue learning from China, Madrid said, noting that experts from China share knowledge through direct, personal interactions and academic talks.

"This learning process is further complemented by the tools, technology and equipment they bring," she said.

Regarding what China brought to this year's expo, Madrid said China presented solutions that "go beyond the primary production stage" and cover the entire value chain.