One of Mekong Bamboo’s main areas of activity is enabling government policy and practice reforms in support of bamboo industries.

Our major focus of work includes:

• Provincial policy and practices reform
• National policy and practices reform

Provincial Policy and Practices Reform

Eight to 10 provinces supply bamboo to the Northern Viet Nam Cluster; finished goods processing is carried out in 4 additional provinces. Currently, the bamboo industry is regulated by a mismatch of policy and laws emanating from various national and provincial government agencies and departments, including but not limited to: agriculture, commerce and trade, and planning departments. For the industry to develop to its potential in an efficient manner, these regulations require analysis and revision.

Mekong Bamboo has taken a staged approach to policy analysis and reform, engaging directly with government agencies in the lead bamboo supply provinces.

National Policy and Practice Reform

Mekong Bamboo also works to support the bamboo industry at the national government level in Viet Nam and Lao PDR. We do this through direct interaction with national government agencies and policy research institutes that typically support government policy conclusions.

Mekong Bamboo is presently co-chairing and advising the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in a policy dialogue and development process that will engage the leading provinces, regions, the private sector and other stakeholder groups. This collaboration is expected to result in Viet Nam's first major national initiative in support of the national bamboo industry.

National policy and practice reform

Mekong Bamboo also works to support the bamboo industry at the national government level in Viet Nam and Lao PDR. We do this through direct interaction with national government agencies and policy research institutes that typically support government policy conclusions.

Mekong Bamboo is working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in Viet Nam and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) in Lao PDR and other relevant ministries in support of a national bamboo strategy.