The Mekong Hub Knowledge and Learning Fair was opened in style today in Da Nang in central Vietnam. Mr Thomas Rath, Country Director and Representative for Vietnam, Thailand and Lao PDR
Subregional Coordinator – Mekong Hub, used a traditional Vietnamese Gong to announce the event.
Being the first of its type in the Mekong region, the fair attracts 130 participants from IFAD supported programmes and loan projects from Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and the Philippines. In addition, there are partner projects and grant projects implemented by CGIAR institutions, academies (SEARCA), international NGOs (SNV, Helvetas, CIAT), and farmers organizations (AFA) among others undertaking studies and piloting approaches and technologies which will complement loan projects.
“I think we have an unique opportunity that we have five countries presented here in one place. It is a good mix of people with different experiences and backgrounds. The purpose is to exchange knowledge between the projects and programmes but also among the countries in the Mekong Hub. Usually, we have very ad-hoc visits, people in another country or another province look at something very specific in a locality. Here we have people looked at their own success stories and their ‘bumping stones’ in their project implementation in an interactive way,” said Mr Rath in his opening address.
Expected to be a compelling, exciting and innovative fair, this three-day event (4-6 July), provides a forum for participants with creative learning and sharing opportunities, equipping them to better act and influence current and future issues relating to agriculture, food security, price volatility, climate change, changing demographics… etc.
The event is complemented by vibrant knowledge booths by all participating countries and a photo exhibition with best pictures from the field.
