Training Program Opens to Promote Agricultural Value Chain in the GMS
September 13, 2010
Value chain is a sequence of steps involved in the process of production to market delivery of a product. Value chain analysis facilitates an improved understanding of competitive challenges, helps in the identification of relationships and coordination mechanisms, and assists in understanding how chain actors deal with powers and who governs or influences the chain. The approach is a powerful vehicle for linking small businesses to markets, and thus is essential for improving rural GMS economies.
Mekong Institute is organizing a two-week regional training program on Agriculture Sector Value Chain Analysis and Promotion from 13-24 September 2010 to broaden the horizon of participants on the characteristics, usefulness and benefits of Value Chain Approach to regional, national and local economic development. 22 middle to senior-level government officials of central and provincial government agencies of Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam participate in the program. Alongside with classroom lectures, structured learning visits to Hom Mali Rice Chains in Khon Kaen and Roi-et provinces, and Silk Cluster in Khon Kaen province will be arranged to enhance the learning process.
The training program is offered by MI and Thailand International Development Agency (TICA) in collaboration with Singapore Cooperation Enterprise. In his opening speech, Mr. Wattanawit Gajaseni, Development Cooperation Officer of TICA, said that Thailand has shifted from being a donor-recipient to an active contributor to regional development, partnering with donor countries to provide technical assistance under the modality of trilateral cooperation. He was very delighted that Thailand and Singapore can share views and experiences on agricultural value chain promotion with the participants.