As a technical assistance (TA) program, the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Program (SAFSP) itself will not satisfy the vast needs of some GMS countries for infrastructure and facilities. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) therefore recommends each GMS Agriculture ministry to capitalize on this TA, together with other efforts, to come up with investment projects. Mr. Jiangfeng Zhang, Director, Environment, Natural Resource & Agriculture Division, Southeast Asia Department, ADB, said that we needed the joint efforts of many other TAs and investment projects, and participation of other development partners to achieve the vision of the GMS agriculture sector. As an example, a recent investment project at country level is the Agricultural Value Chain Competitiveness and Safety Enhancement Project, recently approved by ADB with Cambodian Government, which provides both technical assistance and procurement of lab facilities. SAFSP is expected to contribute to the development of a pipeline of investment projects for ADB and the private sector of at least $600 million on safe, climate-friendly agri-food value chains.

This was originally posted on the GMS Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Program Newsletter September 2021 Vol. 1 No. 1.