Cultivating a Greener Future: The Mekong Biotrade Story

Hanoi, August 2024 – Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and the Center for Rural Economy Development (CRED) are pleased to announce the Regional Biotrade Project Review Meeting, scheduled to take place on August 13, 2024, under the theme “Cultivating a Greener Future: The Mekong Biotrade Story”. This event marks the culmination of an eight-year initiative funded by the Government of Switzerland through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), with a total budget of 8.5 million CHF.

Event Details:

• Time: 13:30 – 19:30, August 13, 2024
• Venue: Van Mieu 1-2 Hall, Pullman Hotel, 40 Cat Linh Street (Entrance 61 Giang Vo street), Ba Dinh district, Hanoi
• Participants: 120 delegates will attend the meeting, both online and on-site. The event is honored to welcome the presence of His Excellency Thomas Gass, Ambassador of Switzerland to Vietnam, along with representatives from SECO, relevant governmental agencies (both central and provincial levels), international NGOs, partner companies and Business Support Organizations (BSOs), beneficiary farmers, Helvetas, and Center for Rural Economic Development (CRED).

Objectives: The meeting aims to showcase the key achievements and impact of the Regional Biotrade project (RBT). It will also facilitate discussions among stakeholders on strategies to further promote ethical sourcing practices within the Biotrade sector.

About the RBT Project: The RBT Project spans two phases and focuses on biodiversity conservation through sustainable trade of biodiversity-based products. It integrates local producers and exporters into global value chains, thereby increasing incomes for rural populations in Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia who rely on biodiversity resources for their livelihoods.

Project Components: HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation oversees the project's overall management and directly manages components in Laos, Myanmar, and the regional component. The Vietnamese non-profit organization CRED manages the implementation in Vietnam. The project applies a Market System Development (MSD) approach, investing in certification, trade promotion (including trade fairs), e-commerce, branding,  , and support for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements.

Project Results: To date, the RBT Project has successfully integrated 78 companies from Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia into global value chains, resulting in export revenues surpassing USD 195 million. The project has improved working conditions, created employment opportunities, and enhanced incomes for vulnerable people in remote areas, especially women of different ethnic groups. The project has improved 56,440 lives dependent on biodiversity resources through 32 sustainable agricultural and forestry value chains.

The project has strengthened community resilience to climate change impacts and contributed significantly to environmental protection. Businesses and communities involved in Biotrade have embraced international sustainability standards, evident from increased investments in Biotrade products and their willingness to pay for business support services.

Mr. Jos van den Zanden, RBT Program Manager, comments: "The RBT Project has been instrumental in promoting responsible sourcing from the Mekong region and stands as a successful model of transnational development cooperation. While more is to be done to elevate Mekong biodiversity products in premium markets, the future outlook for Biotrade products is promising."

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/DRGmPfprDeyknAf57 (Only for participants who received an official invitation via email)

Press Release in English and Vietnamese: PR - Regional Biotrade Project Review Meeting in Hanoi

For media inquiries or further information about the Regional Biotrade Project and the meeting, please get in touch with diep.dinh@helvetas.org or nga.thai@cred.org.vn.

ABOUT HELVETAS

Helvetas, founded in 1955, is the largest Swiss-based and leading European development organization. We work in developing, emerging, and transitioning countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, partnering with poor and disadvantaged people to improve their livelihoods, strengthen local actors and create an institutional framework conducive to sustainable development.

Helvetas has been operating in Vietnam since 1994 in agriculture, forestry, governance, water and sanitation, and rural development. Today, Helvetas Vietnam’s country program focuses on Sustainable and Inclusive Economies, Climate Change, and Vocational Skills Development.

ABOUT CRED

Center for Rural Economy Development (CRED) is a Vietnamese non-profit organization established and registered as a member organization of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Association (VUSTA) with an operator permit number A-1211, from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), dated on September 22, 2014, working for the elimination of poverty and greater inclusion of disadvantaged groups including the poor, women, youth and ethnic minorities through greater participation and benefits from sustainable development and economic growth.

CRED is a pioneer organization working with market system development (MSD) which enables CRED to connect the communities, local businesses and producer groups with high-quality service providers to promote sustainable production practices and enhance the export readiness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).