Background
Established to promote economic cooperation, trade, and sustainable development among the six countries within the Mekong River Basin: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and China. The Mekong River Basin is a crucial area with the potential to become a hub for trade, clean energy development, and transportation connectivity in Southeast Asia. This association was founded from the vision of developing this area to build a balanced and sustainable economy, supporting cross-border trade and linking transportation routes by land and water.
The association was inspired by the international cooperation project, the Lancang-Mekong River, which began in the 1990s with waterway explorations from China to Laos. This project has grown and become a part of China’s “Belt and Road Initiative,” which focuses on fostering economic cooperation and transportation among countries in the region.
With the expansion of the China-Laos railway and other transportation routes, the association plays a significant role in promoting trade, investment, and international transportation development. It emphasizes sustainability in clean energy, the advancement of agricultural technology, the promotion of cultural tourism, and the creation of a fair and safe society within the Mekong River Basin.
The association has established cooperation among the six countries to drive interdependent economic growth, focusing on reducing trade disparities, developing efficient transportation routes, and utilizing technology to ensure food and energy security, which will lead to comprehensive and sustainable development in the future.
The association operates under the Ministry of Commerce, with its office located in the Rubber Industry Department, Rubber Authority of Thailand. Currently, it engages in commerce, agriculture, and building cultural relationships among the six countries in the Mekong River Basin, both domestically and internationally.