Concept Note

“Non-tariff Measures on Agricultural trade between China and the Greater Mekong Sub-region Countries: A value chain analysis” is a two-year regional research project funded by Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund administrated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Cambodia. The research is implemented in six countries: China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, and regionally coordinated by Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) based in Cambodia. The country-based research was implemented by the following institutes based in partner countries: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Economic Research Institute for Industry and Trade (ERIIT) in Laos, Centre for Economic and Social Development (CESD) in Myanmar and Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS).

The study in the five LMC partner countries had selected agricultural products potential for the exports to China, while that in China studies were about the overall agricultural trade between China and the five partner countries. Value chains of cassava and sugarcane were studied in Cambodia, rice and banana in Laos, maize in Myanmar, cassava and durian in Thailand and dragon fruit and coffee in Vietnam. The original outputs of the projects were in the form of country report to be jointly published by CDRI, and it was potentially to be upgraded to the added volume published by a known international publisher. The research teams have worked to improve the output quality to reach a certain standard required by the selected publisher.

The project was officially kicked off in May 2018 and expected to end in February 2020. Because of the unforeseen Covid-19 pandemic, there was an official approval for a six-month extension up to August 2020. An important activity set for the project wrap-up is a regional dissemination workshop, and it is planned to be launched on 28^th August 2020. Due to the limitation in international travel posed by Covid-19, this event will be conducted in online platform widely open for participation from public. The regional dissemination workshop is organized in accordance with three main objectives as follows.

1. To disseminate the regional research outputs to targeted audiences, namely policy makers in the LMC partner countries including China;
2. To broaden the outreach to relevant stakeholders encompassing private sectors, development partners and others; and
3. To officially announce the close of the regional project and seek the possibilities for future collaboration.

Where: The workshop will be conducted on Zoom. Invited participants are requested to join via this link: www.bit.ly/2020MLC. It will also be officially lived on CDRI' Facebook page and that of partners.

When: 28th August 2020

Time: 8:30-12:45 (Cambodia time, GMT+7)

Presenters: Guest speakers and researchers from the six countries

Participants: Policymakers and representatives of the private sectors and development partners from the six countries. Public audience could also watch live.  

Agenda

   Note: This agenda is subject to changes.