The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $180 million loan to help three cities in Cambodia improve urban infrastructure and boost economic competitiveness.  

The Livable Cities Investment Project will help more than 140,000 residents in Bavet, Kampot, and Poipet access better wastewater and solid waste management services. It will help the cities reduce flooding by upgrading their urban stormwater and drainage systems. The project also aims to strengthen the capacity of municipal governments to deliver urban services.

Read about the 18th GMS Working Group on Agriculture Annual Meeting and the webinar on GMS COVID-19 food security response and recovery, as well as planned demonstration sites of the GMS SAFSP, five priority areas of SAFSP support, and more. The newsletter also includes relevant news, knowledge products, and events in the subregion.

The GMS WGA held its 18th meeting on 7–8 July 2021 via video conferencing

The Greater Mekong Subregion has increasingly focused on developing sustainable and inclusive tourism in recent years, with positive changes fostered by strong engagement between government, the private sector, and civil society.

Viet Nam is eyeing the development of rural tourism—such as community-based tourism, agricultural tourism, and ecotourism—backed by digital transformation.  

Viet Nam has around 365 rural tourism spots and more than 2,000 traditional craft villages with potential for development under rural tourism.  

Thailand will accelerate its railway connectivity, in line with the opening of the railway link between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) in December 2021.