Executive summary

Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) and Viet Nam – referred to here as the Mekong-3 – have established themselves as one of the most dynamic and trade-led regions of the world. In 2022, the value of trade flows surpassed GDP in all three economies. The trade-to-GDP ratio was particularly high in Cambodia and Viet Nam at over 210 and 185 per cent, respectively – several times higher than the global average of 62 per cent. The value of total trade flows has tripled in Cambodia and Viet Nam and more than doubled in the Lao PDR in the past decade.