CASP Phase II capitalizes on earlier investments and outcomes and will enhance cross-border synergies, making regional cooperation among the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries more relevant.
At the 16th GMS Ministerial Meeting held in August 2010, the CASP Phase II was endorsed to provide strategic directions to build global competitiveness for the GMS subregion through regional cooperation. The broad strategy of CASP Phase II is to increase subregional agricultural competitiveness and agribusiness investment in the economic corridors. This will be facilitated through modernized trading system that provides links to regional and global markets. The foundation of the strategy includes agricultural research and technology that emphasizes climate-friendly agricultural development, private sector involvement to ensure sustainability, and institutional mechanisms to enhance regional cooperation with incentives to achieve the vision.
Vision and broad strategy
Under CASP Phase II, the vision for the GMS agriculture sector is The GMS is recognized as the leading producer of safe food, using climate –friendly agricultural practices and integrated into global markets through regional economic corridors. The broad strategy of CASP Phase II is to increase subregional agricultural competitiveness and agribusiness investment in the economic corridors. This will be facilitated through modernized trading system that provides links to regional and global markets. The foundation of the strategy includes agricultural research and technology that emphasizes climate-friendly agricultural development, private sector involvement to ensure sustainability, and institutional mechanisms to enhance regional cooperation with incentives to achieve the vision.
Strategic pillars
The broad strategy of CASP Phase II is supported by three strategic pillars and building blocks:
Pillar 1: Building global competitiveness by promoting food safety and modernizing agricultural trade through:
harmonized food safety standards and system
paper free trade and IT traceability systems
critical mass quality of food and products
community-based Participatory Guarantee Approach (PGA)
Pillar 2: Promoting climate-friendly agriculture via a market-based strategy to ensure food security while rewarding farmers for their ecosystem services through:
carbon financing for agriculture
climate-resilient farming systems
weather-based insurance system
transboundary invasive species and animal disease control
Pillar 3: Promoting agriculture as a leader in providing clean rural renewable energy and cross-border eco-friendly supply chains through:
regional bioenergy regulatory framework and harmonized standards
efficient utilization of biomass for bioenergy while fostering food security
eco-label systems for market access
