Yangon Welcomes Self-certification of Origin to Support Its Trade Facilitation

ASEAN plans to establish a region-wide system or self-certification by 2015 to facilitate and reduce the cost of doing business in ASEAN.  As in any preferential trading area, a product must first receive origin certification before it can claim any trade privileges.  Normally such certificate will be issued by a government agency or an authorized…

Cambodia Hosts Lower Mekong Initiative Meeting to Build Sustainable Regional Cooperation

The Royal Government of Cambodia hosted over 80 delegates from Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States in Siem Reap on November 6-7, 2013 for the 5th Lower Mekong Initiative Regional Working Group Meeting.  Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the foreign ministers of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam…

USAID Plans to Help Myanmar’s Economic Development

USAID/RDMA has continued to support rapid engagement with USAID-Myanmar in support of Myanmar’s efforts to continue its economic reforms, particularly relating to strengthening the rule of law, and increasing transparency. From September 25 to October 3, consultants from the ASEAN Connectivity through Trade and Investment (ACTI) project met with officials from USAID, GIZ, the Asia…

Smart Infrastructure for the Mekong Factsheet

View Resource

NEWS: Cambodia to Host 5th Lower Mekong Initiative Regional Working Group Meeting

Cambodia will host the 5th meeting of regional working group of Lower Mekong Initiative to be held from 6-7 Nov in Siem Reap province, the media release said.The meeting will focus on agriculture, food safety, education, energy safety, and environment and water resource and health issues and other related issues.The meeting will be chaired by Mr.…

Strengthening Grassroots Capacity on Equity in Forest Management in the Lower Mekong

USAID's Grassroots Equity and Enhanced Networks in the Mekong (GREEN Mekong) launched its two-year capacity development series in Bangkok on October 14-18.  Over 21 grassroots civil society organizations (CSOs) from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam participated in the course designed to strengthen their abilities as facilitators to explain the concept and principles of…

CAP-Malaria Highlight from Myanmar

Children in Rakhine State, Myanmar absorb BCC educational materials as they learn proper net usage during a Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI) Long Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) distribution campaign.  Photo: CAP-MalariaRelated Website: Control and Prevention of Malaria (CAP-Malaria)Source: Health Matters Newsletter RDMA/Office of Public Health 

What Some Fish, Oil, and a Little Rice Can Do: Working with Pyi Gyi Khin

One of Control and Prevention of Tuberculosis (CAP-TB)’s most effective local implementing agencies, Pyi Gyi Khin (PGK), is a Burmese NGO that was founded by a mother and daughter team in 1997 with the goal to empower vulnerable women and children.  The organization advocates for marginalized populations, including children and orphans, female sex workers, people…

Promoting Quality of Medicines Program’s Technical Assistance Supports ASEAN Regional Harmonization Strategy

With the financial support from USAID/Philippines, USAID/Indonesia, and the Presidential Malaria Initiative through USAID/RDMA, the Promoting the Quality of Medicines (PQM) program conducted two successful training workshops in conjunction with the ASEAN Pharmaceutical Product Working Group  for the medicines regulatory agencies of ASEAN member states.In September more than 35 inspectors from ASEAN member states—Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia,…

CAP-Malaria Meeting in Western Myanmar

In the Rakhine Region, Toungup (Taung Goke) Township, Moe Shwe Gone Village, the Control and Prevention of Malaria (CAP-Malaria) team organized a meeting to introduce CAP-Malaria project to the target population, by providing health education and demonstrating the right way to use long lasting insecticide treated bed nets.Related Website: Control and Prevention of Malaria (CAP-Malaria)Source: Health Matters Newsletter RDMA/Office…

Fellowships Available under the LMI Environment and Water Pillar

The MyCOE / SERVIR Initiative is currently accepting proposals for a seven months fellowship program for undergraduate and graduate students from Lower Mekong countries.  Interested students should propose a research project that will provide a lasting impact in addressing challenges in Climate Change, Sustainable Landscapes and/or Watersheds.  Proposals are due November 3, 2013. Proposals must also include an outreach component to share results with local…

Regional Malaria Coordination Promotes Innovation in Cambodia

The Control and Prevention of Malaria Project convened a cross-border collaboration meeting for malaria on September 18-19, 2013, in Battambang, Cambodia.  The purposes of meeting were for creating consensus among Thai, Burmese and Cambodian malaria officials and partners on strategic approaches for cross-border collaboration, including; the review of planned interventions among vulnerable populations, especially highly…