Cooperation key on Mekong issues
In the coming months, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) will host a unique competition for university students from our four member countries: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
The objective is to see which team can develop the most effective, cost-efficient and sustainable technology to monitor water levels across Southeast Asia’s greatest waterway, which has experienced worryingly low-flow for four straight years. The victorious students will win a grant to turn their vision into the reality and construct their cutting-edge tools.
While the competition may sound like a terrific way to inspire and reward innovation among our best and brightest youth, I want to highlight its broader symbolism: While we welcome and are grateful for international partnerships, we denizens of the Mekong River Basin have entered a new era where we must strive to solve our own Mekong River challenges.
ANOULAK KITTIKHOUN
