The international workshop on "Economic Approaches to Environmental Management in Southeast Asia"

On January 10^th 2018, The Economy and Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA Partnership), the Environment for Development (EfD-Vietnam) together organized an international workshop on "Economic Approaches to Environmental Management in Southeast Asia". The event was hosted by the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh city (UEH) and sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The workshop was chaired by Dr. Pham Khanh Nam, the EEPSEA Partnership Director with the participation of more than 50 attendees who are international researchers from Southeast Asia, policy makers, practitioners, NGOs and graduate students joining in active discussion sections.

The workshop has disseminated studies relating to market-based instruments used in several Southeast Asia countries with aims to use environmental economic tools and techniques to control the pollution and improve environmental conditions in the region. The presentations included:

(1) The Market-based Instruments in Malaysia: Applications and Future Research by Prof. Dr. Awang Noor Abd. Ghani, Economy and Environment Association - Malaysia;

(2) The distributional Effects of the November 14 “Big Bang” Fuel Subsidy Reform in Indonesia by Prof. Dr. Arief Anshory Yusuf, Economy and Environment Institute - Indonesia;

(3) Market-based Instruments for environmental management in Vietnam: Applications and Future Research by Dr. Lai Van Manh, Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam;

(4) Economic Impact of Geothermal operations in the Philippines by Dr. Gem B. Castillo, Economy and Environment Group – the Philippines;

(5) Behavioral insights and a new design to enhance new technology adoption among Thai farmers by Dr. Phumsith Mahasuweerachai, Economy and Environment Institute for Lower Mekong Sub-region.

Environmental economists presenting economic approaches to environmental management in the Southeast Asia

After the workshop, members of the EEPSEA Partnership’s Executive Board also had a discussion with Dr. AnnaKarin Norlin - First Secretary & Senior Research Advisor, Development Cooperation Section – Regional Asia, Embassy of Sweden about future development and sponsors. After the assessment, the representatives of the Sida evaluated the proposal highly and sent positive messages about the agreement for sponsoring the development of the EEPSEA Partnership.

Prof. Nguyen Trong Hoai - the UEH Vice president welcoming Dr. AnnaKarin Norlin and members of the EEPSEA Partnership Executive Board.

Source: Department of Communication andd Pucblic Relations , Economy and Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia, Department of Political Affairs.