Khon Kaen, Thailand – September 2, 2025 – The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Mekong Institute (MI) held a joint workshop at MI Headquarters to advance collaboration on the Generating Revenue and Opportunities from Agricultural Waste in ASEAN (GROW ASEAN) project.

The MI team, led by Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, MI Executive Director, welcomed the GGGI delegation, headed by Mr. Jisu Min, GGGI Country Representative for Thailand.

The workshop focused on fostering a shared understanding of the project design, setting a roadmap for proposal development, and aligning strategies for resource mobilization and partnership engagement. Both organizations reaffirmed their commitment to co-develop and co-implement the project to promote scalable residue-to-value solutions, reduce waste, and create sustainable opportunities for farmers, SMEs, and communities. The initiative also seeks to attract investment, funding, and sponsorship support to ensure its successful rollout and long-term impact.

GGGI and MI share common perspectives on advancing climate resilience in agriculture. Both institutions have jointly supported the ASEAN Climate Resilience Network (ASEAN-CRN), which serves as a regional platform for promoting climate-smart agriculture practices and knowledge sharing across ASEAN Member States.

Mr. Suriyan emphasized that GROW ASEAN offers a pathway for inclusive and sustainable solutions that turn agricultural waste into opportunities for growth. Mr. Min highlighted that the collaboration reflects a shared vision of green growth and resilience in ASEAN, while also opening space for partners and sponsors to join in scaling innovative approaches.

The workshop concluded with agreement on next steps to jointly advance the project toward ASEAN-level endorsement and donor engagement in 2026.