The P-LINK Thai Pilot Facility Handover Ceremony, held on September 11, 2025, in Bung Khla, Bueng Kan Province, marked the official transition of a successful water management project to local Thai stakeholders. This event serves as a tangible example of effective South-South and triangular cooperation. 

The pilot project, titled “Increasing the Efficiency of Tap Water System in Moo 1, 2, and 3, Bung Khla Sub-district,” aims to improve local water access for 943 households (2,365 people) in a rural community along the Mekong River. 

Since its launch in July 2024, the project has significantly enhanced water service reliability and quality through the deployment of smart technologies from the Korean provider, WI.Plat. These include an AI-powered leak detection system, digital billing, and cloud-based monitoring. A new water quality monitoring room was also established at the Bung Khla Subdistrict Administrative Office. 

The handover ceremony brought together a diverse group of key stakeholders, including representatives from the Thai National Mekong Committee (TNMCS), United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS), the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI), Mekong Institute (MI), and WI.Plat. 

As a key partner, MI led the capacity-building efforts, ensuring that the community and local authorities were fully equipped to operate and maintain the new system. This approach is crucial for long-term sustainability and local ownership. 

Ms. Jian Wang, Program Manager at MI, highlighted the capacity-building approach as a key component of the pilot. “We conducted in-depth discussions with the community to understand their specific context. This included not only the difficulties they were facing with conventional methods but also their hesitations about adopting new technology. By addressing these concerns directly, we provided training that truly empowered them. We believe this community-driven approach can be a replicable model for other communities in the Lower Mekong region,” Ms. Wang shared during a panel discussion with fellow experts on scaling up smart water management solutions. 

The project has already shown impressive results. Each detected leak reduces water loss by approximately 24 cubic meters per day, while the mobile billing application has streamlined operations. 

The handover ceremony also commemorated the UN Day for South-South Cooperation 2025. It showcased how innovative, community-based solutions developed through regional collaboration can accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals in the Mekong region. The Thai pilot is now positioned as a replicable model for smart water management, with plans to share its lessons with other communities.