Bangkok & Pattaya, Thailand – From March 16–20, 2026, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in partnership with the Government of Lao PDR and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), organized a high-level South-South Knowledge Exchange (SSKE) mission to Thailand. The mission aimed at shaping the country’s first National Wastewater Law, which is currently in the drafting stage. 

The Wastewater Management Authority is explaining the wastewater treatment process to Lao delegations, at Lampho subdistrict municipality water quality management center.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Governance 

The 19-member delegation was led by Dr. Viengnam Douangphachan, Director General of the Department of Water Supply (DWS) and Deputy Head of the Law Drafting Committee. Reflecting the cross-cutting nature of environmental law, the group comprised senior officials from the National Assembly, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT). 

Bridging Policy and Practice 

The program was designed to complement policy development with direct operational exposure, giving the delegation firsthand access to Thailand’s most experienced environmental and municipal authorities. 

The group held technical consultations with the Pollution Control Department (PCD), the Wastewater Management Authority (WMA), and the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP). Discussions focused on the mechanics of effective governance: enforceable discharge standards, clear institutional mandates, and sustainable financing models, including practical tariff structures and cost-recovery mechanisms. 

To see these policies in action, the delegation visited the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Pattaya City Hall. Site visits to the Din Daeng Water Environment Control Plant and the Kanjanaram Temple facility provided a firsthand look at how centralized and decentralized systems are managed in dense urban and tourism-intensive environments. 

The Wastewater Management Authority is showing the wastewater before and after being treated, and how they check the water quality by parameter before discharging the treated water to the canal.

Dindeng wastewater treatment plant, the recent biggest plant in Bangkok with a 350,000m3/day max storage capacity.

Pattaya wastewater treatment plant with a 65,000 m3/day storage capacity.

Strengthening the National Framework 

“This exchange is a milestone for our legislative process,” said Dr. Viengnam. “By learning from Thailand’s established systems, we can ensure that Lao PDR’s upcoming wastewater law is not only grounded in international best practices but is also practical, implementable, and suited to our national context.” 

The mission is a critical milestone within the Scaling Out Sustainable Solid Waste and Wastewater Management project, funded by KOICA, which supports Lao PDR in building resilient urban infrastructure across both solid waste and wastewater sectors. By fostering regional cooperation, GGGI continues to advance Lao PDR’s transition toward climate-resilient urban development and improved public health outcomes. 

The insights gathered in Thailand will now be integrated into the Draft of the National Wastewater Law, advancing Lao PDR’s commitment to sustainable water governance. 

Learn more about the project: Scaling Out Sustainable Solid Waste & Wastewater Management in Lao PDR, Phase II — Global Green Growth Institute

About the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) 

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was founded as a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization in 2012 at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. GGGI supports its Member States in transitioning their economies toward a green growth model that simultaneously achieves poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. With 55 Member States and 30 Partner countries and regional integration organizations in the process of accession, GGGI delivers programs and projects in over 57 countries. These initiatives encompass developing innovative green growth solutions, technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and assistance in building a pipeline of bankable green investment projects, project financing, investments, and knowledge sharing. GGGI’s work contributes to its Member States’ efforts to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.   

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For more information, visit:  https://gggi.org 

Lao Country Office
Namchaythip Souvannavong, Communications & Knowledge Sharing Unit Lead, GGGI Lao PDR
namchaythip.souvannavong@gggi.org