Siem Reap (FN), September 6 - With the coordination of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Cambodia held the 2nd Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Agricultural Ministerial Meeting from September 6 to 8, 2017 in Siem Reap.

The meeting held under the theme “GMS: Towards Inclusive, Safe, and Sustainable Agriculture Value Chains”.  

"The forum is a unique opportunity that can bring together interested stakeholders who want to promote agricultural sector as a major force in the economic development,” said Mam Ormnot, Secretary of State from Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

ADB's Country Director, Samiule T. Tutuafu, said that the economic policy is relevant to the GMS economy, and in particular, the countries that are dependent on agriculture in the GMS. In the case of Cambodia, it has experienced more than two decades of strong economic growth in average of over 7%. This growth has made Cambodia the sixth country in the world with highest growth rate.

"In 2015, according to the World Bank, Cambodia holds a low middle-income status based on GDP of $1070 per capita and that the 7% growth will continue thanks to agricultural and tourism sectors," stated Samiule T. Tutuafu

He added that with continued strong economic growth, poverty rate was significantly reduced from 47.8% in 2007 to 13.5% in 2014.  

The three-day meeting will increase understanding of agro tourism in GMS and also to link products and services of tourism, agriculture, environment in the market and partnering business.

The GMS countries are Cambodia, the People's Republic of China (PRC, specifically Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.
=FRESH NEWS