Working Group on Agriculture

	Components
p. 1 of 5 BACK | NEXT Component 1: Facilitating Cross-Border Agricultural Trade and Investment Component 2: Promoting Public-Private Partnerships for Sharing Agricultural Information Component 3: Enhancing Capacity in Agricultural Science and Technology Component 4: Establishing Emergency Response Mechanisms for Agricultural and Natural Resource Crises Component 5: Strengthening Institutional Linkages and Mechanisms for Cooperation

Facilitating Cross-Border Agricultural Trade and Investment

• The GMS Program, through the development of the Economic Corridors, has increased trade among the GMS countries. It has created many opportunities for cross-border trade and investment in agriculture. However, there is much to be done to facilitate agricultural development and trade in a way that ensures equitable distribution of benefits.
• Contract farming is seen as a major growth area in cross-border trade, especially in the emerging biofuel industry.
• Food safety and quality of agricultural products in GMS countries are lagging considerably behind those in developed countries. Sanitary and phytosanitary regulations vary among GMS countries. The adoption of common standards on agricultural products to facilitate intraregional trade will be addressed in this component.