ABSTRACT
Introduction International trade in agriculture and food can play an important role in economic integration toward a win-win outcome in which less-developed economies realize their potential by joining cross-border value chains with regional as well as international players in the global market. This chapter focuses on the Mekong region where Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV)—relatively less-developed countries in Southeast Asia-are presented with new opportunities in this context. Growth of these economies through win-win linkages enhances their understanding of the benefits of producing high-value-added crops and stimulates institutional developments such as food safety laws, standards of good agricultural practice, and geographical indication. Such institutional development would in turn create a virtuous circle whereby the upgrading of agriculture and food sectors in these economies brings higher income to local farmers, and then contributes to further economic growth. With careful management of cross-border value chains, we argue that food credence attributes such as organic farming and geographic indication that are specific to the less-developed economies can be mobilized to enhance economic development toward a win-win outcome.
