NXPO in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) organized a strategic meeting to discuss Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) collaboration among Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam (CLTV) on 14-17 February 2023 at Holiday Inn & Suites Rayong. The meeting was attended by representatives of the public and private sectors from the four countries to develop detailed plans for two proposals put forward by Thailand, namely STI Platform for Closed Loop Plastics Packaging and Policy Design and Implementation Support – Sustainability of Cassava Value Chain.

The meeting focused on creating a CLTV agenda-based strategic collaboration to drive public policy to leverage STI capacity for supporting sustainable and inclusive development. The project is in line with Thailand’s BCG model and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Study visits were organized for participants to gain a better perspective and understanding on the two projects. To learn about waste management and plastic waste recycling, participants were taken to visit the Integrated Solid Waste Management Center in Rayong province and ENVICCO Company Limited, a manufacturer of high-quality recycling plastic resins. A tour to Rayong Field Crops Research Center and KRR Starch Company Limited provided information about cassava production and processing in Thailand. 

In addition to this meeting, NXPO team led by Vice President Dr. Kanchana Wanichkorn also participated in strategic meetings held in Cambodia and Vietnam discussing three other proposals, namely Scale-up readiness program for regional startup & innovative enterprises, Human capital development: Establishing regional STI pool of talent for inclusive and sustainable growth, and Regional Alliance of Technology Transfer and Adoption Centres.  

These strategic meetings were organized under the South-South and Triangular Collaboration Programme on Science, Technology and Innovation among Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. The program aims to facilitate innovation creation and exploitation to address mutual challenges faced by the four countries.