Reflection of Action Plan Implementation on “Cross-Border Trade Facilitation” Training Program Concluded
August 8, 2016
Khon Kaen, August 5, 2016. A two-day Synthesis and Evaluation (S&E) workshop under the modular training program on “Enhancing Cross-Border Trade Facilitation toward AEC 2015” from August 3-4, 2016 at the Mekong Institute (MI) Residential Training Center, Khon Kaen, Thailand was successfully concluded. The workshop is funded by Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA).
A total of eleven representatives of Government officials and businesses in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand attended the S&E workshop. The participants reflected and learned from each other on various aspects of the action plans on (i) Cross Border Trade & Transport Facilitation and Business Matching in Myanmar, (ii) Strengthening Agricultural SMEs Export into ASEAN Market in Laos, (iii) Status of Trade Procedures and Implementation under GMS Framework at the Checkpoint Bavet – Moc Bai – Cambodia, (iv) Cross –Border Trade Promotion for SMEs in Middle of Vietnam at Lao Bao Corridor, Quang Tri, Vietnam, and (v) Knowledge Sharing on Environmental Impacts Assessment at Klong Lueg SEZ – Thailand that have been fruitfully implemented and completed during April to July, 2016
At the S&E workshop, the participants assessed the impact the modular training with the principle of Relevance, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Sustainability, Institutional Development and Impacts (REESI). The participants affirmed that the MI’s training course design and contents have met their needs in terms of relevance to areas of responsibility, enhanced their understanding. As for efficiency and effectiveness, the gained knowledge and skills were disseminated to more than 195 beneficiaries at the national workshops in Myanmar, Lao PDR and Vietnam during June – July, 2016. They also reported that the training program is continuously delivered in various forms of training, knowledge sharing and discussions to focus groups including Women Enterprise Association in Myanmar, SMEs entrepreneurs in Vietnam, and related Government officers on cross-border trade activities in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. In the end, the participants considered strengthening human resource capacity and technological development, improving productivity and quality of products, and accessing to import and export information as important for further institutional development and contribution of MI’s programs.