Bilateral development assistance
Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members
Australia Mulling Hefty Aid Injection for Lower Mekong Nations
The Australian government is reportedly preparing to bolster its aid programs in Southeast Asia, as concern in Canberra mounts about China’s growing influence in the region. According to an October 12 report in The Age, Australia is finalizing a Southeast Asian aid package that would inject of ...
Sebastian Strangio
New US Aid for Southeast Asia Takes Aim at Chinese Influence
The U.S. government aims to take another bite out of Chinese influence in Southeast Asia with a partnership to aid five countries that traditionally tap Beijing for help, experts in the region say. The Mekong-U.S. Partnership, formed September 11, will give Washington more clout in Cambodia, ...
Ralph Jennings
Laos, EU discuss targets for trade in legal timber products
Representatives of the European Union (EU) and the Lao government have held discussions on an agreement on combating illegal logging and promoting trade in legal timber products. The issue was discussed at the fourth Joint Expert Meeting (JEM) on a voluntary partnership agreement (VPA) on forest law ...
Vietnam receives support for smart sensors to combat flooding
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) awarded a $400,000 grant to Griffith University researchers to develop a network of energy-efficient smart sensors that will help Vietnam combat flooding. The project aims to create a web of micro-sensors spread throughout Ho Chi Minh (HCM) City to ...
Samaya Dharmaraj
U.S. to give $153 million to Mekong countries for collaborative projects
The United States said it would provide at least $153 million (119.43 million pounds) to Mekong countries for collaborative projects in the region, Vietnamese state television (VTV) reported on Friday, citing U.S. State Department officials. The pledges, made at the first Mekong-U.S. Partnership ministerial meeting, will ...
Reporting by Phuong Nguyen; Writing by James Pearson; Editing by Catherine Evans
As China’s role in Mekong grows, Asean states must weigh ties with US, other powers
Mainland Southeast Asia, especially the Mekong subregion, has become a site for renewed engagement by external powers, a trend driven by China’s proactive foreign policy as well as its promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative and minilateral forum, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC). The United States is ...
Pongphisoot Busbarat
Transparency International Cambodia signed agreement with Action Aid Cambodia
Transparency International Cambodia (TI Cambodia) recently signed partnership agreements to continue its support for the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (CCAWDU) and the Federation of Associations for Small and Medium Enterprises of Cambodia (FASMEC). TI Cambodia continues to work with CCAWDU to empower ...
Zazithorn Ruengchinda
European Union disburses 59.693 billion MMK in support of education in Myanmar
Today, the European Union (EU) disbursed €37.625 million [59.693billion MMK] to further support education reform in Myanmar. The grant is paid earlier than planned to help the Government address the exceptional needs that arose due to COVID-19 and ensure a safe return to school for ...
Japan to give Mekong countries $115 mln for Covid-19 fight, sustainable development
Vietnam and four other countries in the Mekong region will receive Japanese aid worth $115.3 million to combat Covid-19 and work for sustainable development. Japan announced the decision at the 13th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held online on Thursday and co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister ...
Viet Anh
Gov’t, USAID Criticized for Inaction Over Severe Forest Loss at Prey Lang Sanctuary
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen released an open letter Thursday reporting a 73 percent increase in deforestation in 2019 at the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, compared to 2018, while criticizing the government’s ban on certain patrolling operations. The University of Copenhagen’s open letter used data ...
Sun Narin, VOA Khmer