Khon Kaen, Thailand – The Mekong Institute (MI), with support from the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund (LMCSF), concluded the 2nd Regional Training cum Workshop on the Promotion of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) from November 17-19, 2025, at MI Headquarters in Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Organized under the three-year project “Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Promotion for Intra-regional Trade in the Lancang-Mekong Region,” and in close collaboration with Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce, the workshop gathered 38 mid-to-senior officials and private sector representatives from China, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The program aimed to strengthen the capacity of SEZ management bodies to attract investment, improve structural governance, and enhance targeted investment promotion.
In her keynote address, Ms. Chotima Iemsawasdikul, Director General of the Department of Trade Negotiations, emphasized Thailand’s commitment: “The Ministry of Commerce recognizes the importance of creating a trade ecosystem that facilitates the connection between Thai Special Economic Zones and Lancang-Mekong member countries through trade facilitation, reducing investment barriers, and creating common standards in the region, where we are ready to cooperate with all sectors to support the upgrading of SEZs to become ‘engines of growth’ for the Lancang-Mekong region.”
Over two and a half days, participants engaged in expert presentations, group exercises, and peer-review sessions covering SEZ policy trends, centralized governance models, green SEZ development, regional cooperation mechanisms, and targeted investment promotion strategies. The workshop concluded with the presentation of immediate action blueprints focusing on OSS structural reforms, investment tour design, enhanced marketing strategies, and proposals for sustaining regional momentum through continued cooperation, including joint investment promotion activities and mechanisms to strengthen cross-border SEZ collaboration beyond 2026.
Looking ahead, the project will shift its 2026 focus to Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to advance sector targeting, regional branding, and investment promotion activities. Planned initiatives include a rapid assessment mission, modular training program, an SEZ Investment Promotion & Matching Event, and the final Investment Tour to the EEC.
In closing, MI thanked all partners and participants and highlighted the planned launch of a centralized SEZ web portal to support information sharing, online promotion, and business matching in 2026.
About MI and the Project
The Mekong Institute (MI) is an intergovernmental organization serving the six countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). The “Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Promotion for Intra-regional Trade in the Lancang-Mekong Region” is a three-year project (2024–2026) funded by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund (LMCSF). For more information, visit the project page here.
