Economic zones hold unique health risks for both workers and communities, but they also offer opportunities to protect workers’ productivity and improve community health. Photo: ADB.
Economic zones are growth engines of the Greater Mekong Subregion, stimulating economic activity and creating jobs. Yet, not much attention has been given to the social and health aspects of economic zone development until recently.
Small- and medium-sized enterprises will benefit from a more transparent and lower-cost registration system. Photo: ADB.
Myanmar has opened an electronic company registry, which will help simplify and reduce the cost of setting up a business in one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies.
VIENTIANE, LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (31 July 2018) — The Asian Development Bank’s Board of Directors has approved a $40.5 million grant to help farmers and agribusinesses develop sustainable and climate-smart agriculture value chains in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
The project’s grievance redress mechanism handled more than 900 complaints from affected persons on resettlement- and construction-related issues. Photo: Pierre Arnoux/ADB.
A comprehensive grievance redress mechanism used a wide range of tools, institutions, and approaches to resolve project complaints and mitigate potential issues.
Cargo and passenger vehicles cross the border on the Lao side of the Mekong River through the Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, which connects Mukdahan Province in Thailand with Savannakhet in the Lao PDR. Photo: ADB.
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic lies at the heart of the Greater Mekong Subregion and its economic corridors . However, the country has yet to maximize benefits from the subregion’s investments in infrastructure and services.
Factory workers assemble electronic products at Savan Park Special Economic Zone in Savannakhet, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Photo: ADB.
Countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion recognize how a health impact assessment framework can help ensure that both businesses and communities benefit from economic zone development.
Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic have agreed to strengthen joint efforts to fight illegal fishing practices and increase fish stock in the Mekong-Sekong basin.
The Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 5 July launched the Lao Provincial Facilitation of Investment and Trade Index (ProFIT), which rates economic governance at the provincial level according to feedback from the country's small and medium enterprises.
The World Bank approved in June $110 million in additional financing to improve the condition, safety, and climate resilience of a key highway in Cambodia.
Asian Development Bank President Takehiko Nakao and People’s Republic of China Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice President of the Development Research Center Ma Jiantang discussed the possibility of conducting joint knowledge work on regional cooperation.
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