13th Ministerial Meeting

13th Ministerial Meeting
Greater Mekong Subregion Program of Economic Cooperation (GMS Program) 13^th Ministerial Conference
International Cooperation and Training Center (ICTC), Vientiane, Lao PDR: 14-16 December 2004

Tentative Program

Monday, 13 December 2004 (GMS Summit Task Force Meeting)

0830-1200	GMS Summit Task Force Meeting (Lao Plaza Hotel)
1200-1300	Lunch (Lao Plaza Hotel)
1300-1500	GMS Summit Task Force Meeting (Continued)
1600-1800	Phnom Penh Plan Steering Committee Meeting
1600-1800	Meeting of the Drafting Group for the Joint Ministerial Statement¹
1900-2100	Working dinner for Heads of SOM delegations and Chairman, Summit Task Force at Lao Plaza Hotel (Hosted by Country Director, LRM)

Tuesday, 14 December 2004 (SOM)

0800-0830	Registration of delegates to SOM (at International Cooperation and Training Center, Vientiane)
0830-0840	Welcome and Opening Remarks (Lao Representative(s), DG ADB)
0840-1030	Session 1 Review of GMS Activities and Future Work Plan: Sector by Sector² (Co-chaired by Lao GMS Coordinator and DG ADB)
1030 - 1045	Coffee Break
1045 - 1200	Session 1 (Continued)
1200-1330	Lunch (Golden Bowl Hotel)
1330-1400	Session 2 GMS Business Forum Report (by Chairman, GMS BF)
1400-1430	Session 3 Summit Task Force Status Report (by Chairman, TF)
1430-1500	Session 4 Other Matters
1500-1520	Closing Remarks (Lao Representative, DG ADB)
1540-1600	Press Briefing for Media (at Media Room, ICTC)
1730	Circulation of Draft Report of SOM Chairman for comment³
1845-2030	Cocktail reception for SOM (Lao Plaza Hotel)

Wednesday, 15 December 2004 (Development Partners Meeting)

0800-0830	Registration of delegates to the 13th Ministerial Conference (at International Cooperation and Training Center, Vientiane)
0830-0840	Welcome Remarks (By Co-Chairs: Lao National Coordinator, DG ADB)
0840-1000	Session 1 – Strategic Approaches: Structure and Convergence Facilitators: Lao PDR GMS National Coordinator and DG ADB
1000-1015	Coffee Break
1015-1100	Session 1 (Continued)
1100-1230	Session 2 – Building Capacity through Expanded Partnerships Session Facilitators/Lead Discussants: Thailand GMS National Coordinator and President, Asian Institute of Technology; Secretary General, GMS Academic and Research Network; Director, Mekong Institute
1230-1330	Lunch (Golden Bowl Hotel)
1330-1500	Session 3 – Private Sector: Issues and Solutions Session Facilitators/Lead Discussants: Cambodia GMS National Coordinator and Chairman, GMS Business Forum
1500-1520	Wrap Up/ Summary by the Co-Chairs
1540-1730	One-on-one Meetings between Country Representatives and Development Partners
1600-1630	Briefing for the Media on the Development Partners Meeting at the Media Room, ICTIC
1540-1610	Briefing to VP on the Meeting Progress
1610	Departure from the Hotel
1625	Arrival at MOFA Guest House
1630-2100	Informal Ministerial Meeting and Dinner between GMS Minister + 1 and ADB (Closed session at MOFA Guest House)⁴ exchange views on the future strategic direction of GMS activities review the progress of preparation of the 2nd Summit of Leaders other matters
1900-2030	Cocktail for Development Partners (Lao Plaza Hotel)

Thursday, 16 December 2004 (Ministerial Meeting)

0740	Departure from the Hotel
0755	Arrival at the ICTC
0800-0820	Courtesy call of the GMS Ministers and ADB Vice President with the Prime Minister (at VIP room)
0800-0820	GMS Video Presentation (at Conference Room, ICTC)
0825-0840	Opening session: Statements by Lao Prime Minister, and ADB Vice President
0840-0850	Break (Group Photo Session, after which the Prime Minister will leave)
0850-0950	Statements of GMS Ministers
0950-1005	Coffee break
1005-1145	Session 1: Review of the Progress of Subregional Cooperation and Future Plans (Co-Chaired by Lao DPM, and ADB VP)⁵ Reports of the SOM Chairman and the Summit Task Force Chairman to the MM, and Discussion
1150-1220	Signing Ceremony for Stage 2 of Cross-Border Transport Agreement Annexes and Protocols
1230-1415	Lunch for GMS Ministers and ADB Vice President: PPP Top Development Management Program (at a VIP room in ICTC)
1230-1415	Lunch (Golden Bowl Hotel)
1415-1600	Session 2: Dialogue with Development Partners (Co-chaired by Lao GMS Minister and ADB VP) Report of Development Partners Meeting (DG ADB) Report of Chairman, GMS Business Forum Comments by Development Partners and GMS ministers
1600-1630	Coffee break
1630-1700	Closing Session: (Co-chaired by Lao GMS Minister and ADB VP) Presentation of the Joint Ministerial Statement
1730-1800	Press briefing for Media at the Media Room in ICTC (Lao GMS Minister and DG ADB)
1900	Dinner hosted by Lao DPM (International Trade Exhibition and Conference Center) Lao Cultural Performance

Friday, 17 December 2004

0940	Departure from the Hotel
0955	Arrival at the Airport (VIP Arrangement: Lao GMS Coordinator and Country Director, LRM)
1020	Departure from Vientiane to Bangkok by TG 691

The proposed Plan of Action will be attached to the Joint Ministerial Statement.

There will be no formal sector report presentation by ADB at the SOM. Sector reports were sent to National coordinators to facilitate discussions at the SOM. SOM Chair may request ADB concerned staff to provide briefing, if necessary.

Comments of SOM participants should be provided to Secretariat by 22:00, 14 December so that the Report of SOM Chairman and the Draft Joint Ministerial Statement can be finalized by 15 December. This arrangement will be announced at the closing session of the SOM.

Chairman, GMS Summit Task Force will also join the Informal Ministerial Meeting and Dinner. Clothing: Lao Traditional Shirt

All sessions will be held in plenary.

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