The Third Joint Knowledge Event co-organized by the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Working Groups on Agriculture (WGA) and Environment (WGE) was held on 24 June 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand with the theme, “Developing Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains in the Greater Mekong Subregion.”

This activity provided an opportunity to address some of the remaining challenges identified in the Joint Summit Declaration of the 5th GMS Summit in December 2014. These challenges include: (i) the need for inclusive development to counter widening gaps in prosperity within and between GMS countries; (ii) regional cooperation to resolve increasing demands for energy, land, water and other resources; and (iii)more effective and extensive engagement with the private sector to successfully deliver the GMS Economic Cooperation Program.

The event also aligned with commitments made by GMS Environment Leaders in their Joint Statement at the 4th GMS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in January 2015 to work across all sectors to ensure that the sound management of natural capital is addressed at all levels of development planning and investment decision making.