To help mitigate the impacts of climate change on agrifood products and trade, Mekong Institute (MI) and Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA) collaborated on a training program on “Investing in a Greener Agrifood Sector for Enhanced Cross-Border Trade”. Held on September 18 to 20, 2023 at the MI Training Center in Khon Kaen, Thailand, the training seeks to improve participants’ appreciation of climate-resilient agriculture and green finance for the agrifood industry.
The course caters to a total of 15 representatives from government line departments, civil society organizations, academic institutions and financial institutions that deal with policies and implement projects related to climate-resilient agriculture and green value chain development in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam (CLMTV).
Ms. Maria Theresa S. Medialdia, Director of MI’s Agricultural Development and Commercialization Department, highlighted in her Opening Remarks the importance of steering the financial flows from traditional practices towards greener and lower emission agrifood value chain. She said that “by investing in a more sustainable and greener agrifood sector, we are promoting enhanced cross-border trade, building stronger economies, and safeguarding our environment.”
Dr. Prasun Kumar Das, Secretary General of APRACA, said that the training course has been designed to “enable among agrifood stakeholders a detailed understanding of the impacts of and pathways to mitigate risks emerging from climate change.” He added that the training will help participants become more familiar with and sensitive to the role of green finance in capturing the ‘triple dividend’ that contributes to improved cross-border trade in the agrifood sector.
The training program promotes the alignment of financing sources with sustainable business practices and integrates environmental risks and opportunities into decisions that drive lending, investment, and insurance for agriculture. The participants are expected to learn about climate impacts on agriculture, relevant policies and financing frameworks, and available green financial products and services for agricultural value chain actors.
