Commercial transportation on the Mekong River

An introduction to commercial transportation on the Mekong River. Recent transportation efforts have focused on improving the commercial navigability of the water course, led to a large extent by China in the river’s upper reaches, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the lower Mekong. Modern transportation infrastructure is essential for economic growth; however, there are a number of concerns regarding how this process has unfolded to date. In particular, the biodiversity and the livelihoods of nearby populations that depend on it, are at risk. These factors make equitable development of this unique resource incredibly complex.