Climate change is real and impacting the agrifood sector in the Greater Mekong Sub-regional countries as it is impacting the other vulnerable countries in the Asia-Pacific region. An international training programme was organized by the Mekong Institute (MI) and Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA) on “Investing in a Greener Agrifood Sector for Enhanced Cross-Border Trade” during September 18 to 20, 2023 at the MI Training Center in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The training aimed to improve participants’ appreciation of climate-resilient agriculture and green finance for the agrifood industry which was attended by the representatives from government line departments, civil society organizations, academic institutions and financial institutions from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam (CLMTV).

Ms. Maria Theresa S. Medialdia, Director of MI’s Agricultural Development and Commercialization Department, highlighted in her Opening Remarks the importance of steering the financial flows from traditional practices towards greener and lower emission agrifood value chain. Dr. Prasun Kumar Das, Secretary General of APRACA, said that the training course has been designed to enable among agrifood stakeholders a detailed understanding of the impacts of and pathways to mitigate risks emanating from the climate change and support the cross-border agrifood trade.