GMS Contents

The GMS Task Force on Trade and Investment held the 2nd training and the 3rd meeting on January 23-25 in Vientiane. 30 government officials joined the training and studied SME financing schemes and communication strategies. The task force meeting agreed on the work plan for 2024 to promote digitalization and better engage with the private sector. On January 25, delegates visited Vientiane Logistics Park and Vientiane Saysettha Development Zone and exchanged views with the private sector.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Viet Nam has initiated a Digital Transformation Project for the Agriculture sector for 2021–2025, with a view to 2030. This project is built on three foundational pillars: digital government, digital agricultural economy, and digital countryside, all aimed at fostering the emergence of "digital farmers."

The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) in Cambodia marked a significant upsurge in trade activities in January and February 2024. The trade volume through this economic corridor reached $628 million, reflecting a robust growth of 38.3% compared to the same period in 2023.

The Freshwater Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (FARDeC), under Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, is significantly bolstering the country's aquaculture sector by producing tens of thousands of fish hatchlings. Young fish bred by FARDeC have exhibited higher survival rates and faster growth compared to those in the wild, a success attributed to the center's specialized feeding program.

Cambodia's tourism sector continues on an upward trajectory, with the country making concerted efforts to surpass pre-pandemic tourism levels through strategic campaigns, international collaborations, and infrastructural enhancements. In the initial months of 2024, Cambodia has seen a significant uptick in international tourism.

The construction of the fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, an infrastructure project connecting the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and Thailand, is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2024. This bridge spans the Mekong River, linking Bolikhamxay province in Lao PDR with Bueng Kan province in Thailand. The project is a testament to the ongoing cooperation between the two nations and is expected to enhance travel and trade within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).