The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR) plans to build a green food processing and manufacturing base for the ASEAN, said Mr. Xu Liqing, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of GZAR. He spoke at the Guangxi Food Processing Industry Chain Investment Promotion Conference held in Nanning, Guangxi, PRC.
Thailand’s unemployment rate dropped to 1.05%, its lowest in three years, as the country’s tourism industry rebounds.
Photo via Vientiane Times
Construction work on the 5th Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge has surpassed 72% completion, and is expected to be completely finished by the end of 2024. The bridge will connect Paksan, Bolikhamsai Province (Lao PDR) to Bueng Kan Province (Thailand) across the Mekong River. The bridge is set to further boost connectivity in the GMS.
A new World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report highlights the discovery of 380 new species of flora and fauna in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). The study, conducted in 2021-2022 by an international team comprising scientists and researchers in the subregion, has classified a discovery of 290 plants, 19 fishes, 24 amphibians, 46 reptiles, and 1 mammal.
20th Annual Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion Working Group on Agriculture, 10-11 May 2023
Agrifood value chains in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), overall, proved to be resilient to global supply chain disruptions during the pandemic and have made a vital contribution to food security, and economic recovery. Many challenges, however, remain.
The program is now accepting demonstration applications for five of its six priority themes:
The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Task Force on Trade and Investment (TFTI) conducted the Second Meeting of the GMS TFTI and Workshop on Digital Supply Chain on 25-26 April 2023 in Manila, Philippines, and online.
A report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) underscored that international tourism arrivals are slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels. The reopening of several Asian source markets and destinations will contribute to tourism recovery in 2023.
The Kim Thanh International Border Gate between Lao Cai (Viet Nam) and Yunnan Province (PRC) plays a vital role in the GMS northern corridor. Photo by ADB.
The Asian Economic Integration Report 2023 highlights the continued growth of integration in subregional initiatives and programs in Southeast Asia, including both in the GMS and the ASEAN, from 2006 to 2020.
The annual Mekong Tourism Forum returns as an in-person event in Preah Sihanouk Province, Cambodia, on 25–27 April 2023. Hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Kingdom of Cambodia, the Forum’s theme is “Rethinking for Resilience and Digitalization.”
The Forum provides an interactive platform for regional tourism stakeholders to discuss critical issues and emerging trends, rethink the future of Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) tourism, exchange insights and experiences, as well as reconnect face-to-face with each other.
Greater Mekong Subregion Secretariat
Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division,
Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank
Address: 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Metro Manila, Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 8632 4444 Fax: +63 2 8636 2226