The seminar was held jointly by the Lao Academy of Social Sciences (LASS), the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), the Korea Environment Institute (KEI) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).
Speaking at the seminar, VASS President Prof. Nguyen Quang Thuan, Ph.D., affirmed that the Vietnamese Government had consistently considered sustainable development a part of the nation’s development strategy, noting that the country had enthusiastically partaken in relevant seminars and had committed to attaining its sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Soukkongseng Sayaleuth, President of the Lao National Institute for Social Sciences, said the ideas and solutions to smart agriculture development and the realisation of the sustainable growth goals proposed by the participants at the seminar would contribute to fostering future cooperation opportunities in smart farming for all sides involved.
Participants at the seminar discussed smart agriculture as well as specific measures to implement actions and projects combined with the 2030 Agenda and SDGs in the countries of the Mekong sub-region, paying particular attention smart agriculture and promoting the role of women.
They also focused on the implications of the SDGs for the Mekong Delta Region by deliberating on the integration of inclusive, environmentally friendly and smart agriculture in the rural areas of the Mekong. In addition, recognising gender issues as a cross-cutting priority, the seminar also discussed ways to promote the importance of the role of women and participation in the agricultural sector in achieving sustainable development.
The seminar was considered a platform from which understand the gender dynamics in the Mekong region and on which to contribute to gender equality in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
