The Mekong Institute (MI) recently convened National Collaboration Events for the Mekong CONNECT project across Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Viet Nam, and Thailand. These crucial events served as a platform to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration, validate technologies, and establish a Community of Practice, marking a significant step toward resilient and inclusive food systems in the Mekong region.
Agriculture stands as a cornerstone of economic development and livelihoods in the Mekong region, significantly contributing to national GDPs and employing a large portion of the population, particularly in rural areas. However, the sector faces persistent challenges, including unsustainable farming practices, ecosystem degradation, and the escalating impacts of climate change. In response, MI launched Mekong CONNECT, a project designed to promote the integration of smart agricultural technologies and cultivate sustainable public-private partnerships (PPPs) to transform food systems.
Country-Specific Highlights:
Cambodia (19 June 2025): The event chaired by Council for Agricultural and Rural Development, Office of the Council of Ministers highlighted a strong government commitment to sustainable food systems, focusing on climate-smart agriculture (CSA). There was broad agreement on the need for effective PPPs to scale smart agriculture. However, participants noted that while it is “easy to say, it’s hard to implement”, pointing to a need for clearer government policies, aligned incentives, and blended financing models to support SMEs and farmers’ adoption. Greenovator explored partnership opportunities with government officials during the event. DFCD shared practical PPPs and blended finance models in Solar Green Energy Cambodia (SOGE), Amru Rice Cambodia Co., Ltd, and Kofi Co., Ltd.
Lao PDR (26 June 2025): The event led by newly merged Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Agriculture remains a vital pillar of the Lao economy, contributing approximately 16 percent to the GDP in 2024 and employing around 70 percent of the population. Discussions in Laos focused on the urgent need to address PPPs and smart agriculture. The private sector was identified as critical for developing data-driven, smart farming models. A key priority was building a “Laos brand” for agricultural products, supported by improved access to finance for agricultural startups such as Cofarm Laos. At the event, AgDev Laos shared potential investment opportunity with stakeholders.
Myanmar (8 July 2025): The event led by Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation addressed Myanmar’s complex operating environment for agriculture development. There was a strong interest in learning from regional partners, particularly Viet Nam, on agricultural transformation best practices. Participants highlighted significant challenges for farmers, including high interest rates of up to 40%, conflict, and a lack of access to quality inputs like organic fertilizers. Women-led SMEs are crucial to the rural economy but require targeted business training and financial support. There is potential partnership with Women Transforming Myanmar and Village Link Company Limited that has majority farmers across Myanmar. The event concluded with a call for flexible, co-created action plans that are realistic for the Myanmar context.
Viet Nam (3 July 2025): Viet Nam’s event chaired by Ministry of Agriculture and Environment underscored its leadership in digital transformation of agriculture. Key priorities include developing robust data standards for traceability, utilizing e-commerce platforms, and deploying digital tools for farmers. The development of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) was a central strategy, with a significant goal being the “1 million hectares of high-quality low emission rice” program, contributed by IRRI. The event highlighted the need for strong government leadership to bridge gaps in policy, implementation, and funding. MI is also working further with ISPAE on future collaboration that will help Viet Nam leading ASEAN in agrifood transformation.
Thailand (24 June 2025): The event centered on leveraging digital economy and fostering cross-border partnerships to modernize agriculture. The agriculture sector alone employs one-third of the labor force yet contributes only 8% to the GDP. A key theme was the importance of a farmer-centric approach, moving beyond academic research to address real-world issues. The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) was recognized for its crucial role in providing financial support to farmers.
By the conclusion of these events, national stakeholders achieved a shared understanding of the projects’ objectives and implementation strategies. Roles and responsibilities between MI and national partners were clarified, initial members of the Community of Practice were identified, and key actors were engaged in co-developing pathways for national activities, pilot implementation, and PPP opportunities development. These events successfully laid the foundation for sustainable agricultural development and resilient food systems across the Mekong region.
