Economic zones hold unique health risks for both workers and communities, but they also offer opportunities to protect workers’ productivity and improve community health. Photo: ADB.
Economic zones are growth engines of the Greater Mekong Subregion, stimulating economic activity and creating jobs. Yet, not much attention has been given to the social and health aspects of economic zone development until recently.
Factory workers assemble electronic products at Savan Park Special Economic Zone in Savannakhet, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Photo: ADB.
Countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion recognize how a health impact assessment framework can help ensure that both businesses and communities benefit from economic zone development.
Deputy Director General of ADB's Private Sector Operations Department Christopher Thieme (left) and China Everbright CEO Wang Tianyi (right) after the signing. Photo: ADB.
HONG KONG, CHINA (2 February 2018) — The Asian Development Bank today signed a $100 million loan facility agreement with China Everbright International Limited to help a series of municipal waste-to-energy plants in primary and secondary cities in the Mekong Delta.
Thailand is ramping up infrastructure investments next year in the Eastern Economic Corridor, where all the economic corridors of the Greater Mekong Subregion converge.
Regulatory and institutional reforms are needed to make infrastructure more attractive to private investors and generate a pipeline of bankable projects for public–private partnerships. Photo: ADB.
Mekong governments need to create an enabling environment for public-private partnerships in infrastructure. Here are 4 ways to get the job done.
Cargo trucks pass through the Second Lao–Thai Friendship Bridge over the Mekong river, which connects Savannakhet City with Mukdahan province. The bridge has helped improved the Lao PDR’s access to seaports in neighboring countries. Photo: ADB.
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is operating its first dry port in Savannakhet province, where it is strategically positioned along the Greater Mekong Subregion East-West Economic Corridor, at the mid-point between the nearest Vietnamese seaport of Danang, and Thai ports in Bangkok and Laem Chabang.
By 2030, more than 40% of the population in the Greater Mekong Subregion will be living in cities. Photo: ADB.
The subregion is one of the least urbanized areas in the world, but its cities are growing and their economic impact is being felt.
Special economic zones have shown to be centers of growth and incubators of good practice. Photo: ADB.
Special economic zones combined with economic corridors are a potent force for prosperity in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
The BTS Skytrain arrives at Asoke station, one of Bangkok’s busiest business districts. The Eastern Economic Corridor project includes high-speed trains to link international airports and doubletrack railways to connect Laem Chabang port to other ports. Photo: ADB.
Thailand is rolling out an ambitious plan to transform the eastern part of the country into an investment, technology, and transportation hub, where all the economic corridors of the Greater Mekong Subregion converge.
The Governors Forum promotes regular communication among provinces along the borders of the Mekong countries. Photo: ADB.
In Kunming, governors and key local government officials from provinces along the borders of the Greater Mekong Subregion came together on 10 June 2017 to discuss further cooperation.
Greater Mekong Subregion Secretariat
Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division,
Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank
Address: 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Metro Manila, Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 8632 4444 Fax: +63 2 8636 2226
