The 20th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Senior Economic Officials’ Meeting (CLMV SEOM) took place virtually on January 25, with a major focus on reviewing the activities from the 2019 to 2020 CLMV Action Plan, discussing the plans ahead in 2021 and 2022, and the steps to implement the CLMV Development Framework. 

Deputy head of the Asian-African Market Department at the Ministry of Industry
and Trade Nguyen Phuc Nam is the head of SEOM CLMV Vietnam.

The event also scrutinised the implementation of the Promotion of Competitiveness within the Framework of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (COMPETE) project funded by the German Government through the German international development organisation GIZ.

During the course of the meeting, Vietnamese representatives suggested that countries study and select the form of implementing projects which are suitable to the “new normal” in each country when compiling the CLMV Action Plan for 2021 to 2022 period.

In his role as the head of the Vietnamese delegation, Nguyen Phuc Nam, deputy head of the Asian-African Markets Department at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, underlined the need to enhance the application of digital technology. This is in addition to the organisation of activities online, while also offering favourable conditions for experts, technicians, and project officials from development partners who can carry out entry procedures, conduct novel coronavirus (COVID-19) tests, and undergo quarantine.

Moving forward, it remains imperative for CLMV to propose more co-operative projects aimed at benefiting all four countries and supporting post-pandemic recovery efforts, especially projects which serve to facilitate trade and investment. Along with those that improve regional connectivity, support micro- small- and medium-sized enterprises in accessing finance and technology, and increasing their capacity.

With regard to the building of a detailed action plan aimed at implementing the CLMV Development Framework as approved at the 10th CLMV Summit last December, Nam suggested that countries strive to bolster co-ordination in an effort to identify feasible activities and projects which can be included in the action plan.

Many activities and projects featured in the 2019 to 2020 action plan were postponed or cancelled last year because of the impact of COVID-19. Due to the country’s activeness however, the nation was successfully able to conduct several planned trade and investment co-operation activities.

The country has proactively proposed organised online meetings, trade fairs, and training courses, thereby facilitating trade and investment activities and services. Most notably through CLMV borders, thereby restricting and removing unnecessary trade barriers whilst ensuring the operation of supply chains.