Regional development plan gets green light from Cabinet

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 08, 2023

The Cabinet has approved a five-year regional economic development plan under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation mechanism, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said on Wednesday.

The Cabinet approved the plan on Tuesday, she said.

The Mekong-Lancang Cooperation mechanism was set up in 2015 to enhance cooperation among the six countries the Mekong River (known as the Lancang in China) flows through: China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Rachada Dhnadirek

The five-year plan has nine goals:

1. Promoting trade and investment by creating a regional market for agricultural products, promoting renewable energy and ecotourism, and using the bio-circular-green economic model.

2. Improving cross-border customs procedures and infrastructure to facilitate logistics.

3. Enhancing infrastructure connectivity in the region to create a logistics network.

4. Promoting e-commerce.

5. Setting up economic zones to promote trade and investment.

6. Promoting exhibits for Mekong-Lancang branding.

7. Supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises.

8. Developing human resources by facilitating labour mobility and promoting cooperation between universities.

9. Enhancing the transfer of knowledge and technology in agriculture and irrigation.