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Southeast Asia

Mekong-Australia Partnership

The Mekong subregion (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam) is important to Australia. Australia is working with the Mekong subregion to tackle shared development challenges and ensure a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.

Australia is a transparent, committed and reliable partner – we will face current and future challenges together with our neighbours and partners. Australia and the Mekong subregion have a strong history of cooperation and deep connections through government and people.

The $232 million first phase of the Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP) was launched in November 2020 to bolster the subregion's resilience and support inclusive, sustainable growth.

At the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in March 2024, the Minister for Foreign Affairs announced a $222.5 million second phase of MAP.

What Australia can offer

MAP is a flexible program that responds to shared regional and transboundary challenges, and emerging needs. It supports locally owned activities. Australia engages pragmatically and flexibly in support of the subregion's priorities and where Australia can add value.

Through MAP we are working with Mekong partners to:

  • strengthen water security and climate resilience 
  • counter and disrupt transnational crime
  • enhance economic resilience, institutional and human capacity and gender equality, disability and social inclusion.

Sharing knowledge and skills in the Mekong subregion

MAP is integral to building relationships, as well as sharing knowledge and skills for sustainable development and economic resilience. MAP works alongside Australia's other programs in Southeast Asia, including Partnerships for Infrastructure, and with other development partners including multilateral and civil society organisations.

MAP works together with partners to support regional architecture, including ASEAN and subregional bodies such as ACMECS (Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy), the Mekong River Commission and Friends of the Mekong.

How we're working with the Mekong subregion

  • Providing 42 short courses, 47 Masters scholarships and tailored training opportunities for the next generation of Mekong leaders.
  • Enhancing regional cooperation on transboundary water issues through working with the Mekong River Commission (MRC).
  • Establishing fish passages in Laos and Cambodia to support fish migration, river health and food security in the Mekong River Basin in partnership with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
  • Strengthening public financial management and supporting domestic resource mobilisation in partnership with Cambodia and Laos.
  • Collaborating with Thailand to promote economic development while safeguarding environmental resilience.
  • Working with Vietnam to transform rice value chains, including by lowering emissions for producers in the Mekong Delta.
  • Developing methods for women entrepreneurs to overcome structural barriers to doing business in Thailand and Vietnam.

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