GMS officials discuss ways to improve food safety
1/8/16
At the 13th
Annual Meeting of the Working Group on Agriculture (WGA AM-13) of the Greater
Mekong Subregion (GMS), agriculture officials discussed ways to improve food
safety and trade, climate friendly agriculture and bioenergy and biomass management.
The GMS includes Cambodia,
Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the People's Republic
of China, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet
Nam.
The WGA AM-13 focused on
improving the market access of GMS-produced safe and climate-friendly
agriculture products regionally and globally. Officials reviewed the
implementation of the GMS Core Agriculture Support Program Phase II (CASP2),
which aims to make the GMS an internationally-recognized producer of safe and environment-friendly
agriculture products that are integrated globally. The CASP2 is managed through
ADB-administered technical assistance.
“This 13th Annual Meeting
takes place at a time when all our GMS countries are working together to
finalize their respective first letter of agreement (LOA),” said Vu Van Minh,
Deputy Director General, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam. “The LOA mechanism enables
country direct involvement in program activities, thus fostering country
ownership. Such is the core of cooperation in the CASP2 framework in each
country, together with a number of parallel regional cooperation initiatives
and activities.”
The WGA AM-13 also presented a
blueprint on the supply of safe and environment-friendly agri-food for
endorsement by the next GMS Ministerial Conference in December 2016. The
blueprint for 2018-2022 has a four-pronged agenda of increasing productivity in
agro-based value chains, promoting favorable business environment, developing
market linkages and branding “made in GMS agro products”, and strengthening
institutions for market development./.
All comments [ 10 ]
Urbanization is set to play an ever greater role in the development of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries, transforming their economies and providing support to green economic growth.
By 2050, when urban areas are set to reach 64%–74%, urban gross domestic product will grow to an estimated 70%–80%.
By consolidating and deepening development along existing corridors, and improving environmental conditions, the GMS can prepare for future green growth.
Modern environmental services and infrastructure (e.g., water, wastewater, and solid waste management) support green development and will contribute to positive health impacts.
Improved climate resilience (e.g., through flood control measures) will mean reduced losses from climate change impacts.
Improved urban performance will translate into enhanced productivity and increased attractiveness for investors and residents, providing support to a green economy.
“Greening” road freight in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) will help participating countries achieve their Sustainable Development Goals, as well as providing economic benefits.
Green freight approaches can greatly reduce fuel costs for transport companies, along with reducing their carbon footprint, which will help countries meet their commitments to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
We need the right balance of regulations and incentives to ensure companies have access to technologies, driver training, and improved logistics management. Financing will be a key challenge.
We should find a best way to maintain eco-system balance for Mekong sub-region!
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