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GMS senior officials met at the ADB Headquarters in Manila on 12-13 March 2003 to discuss specific measures to implement proposals made at the GMS Summit held in November 2002 (see GMS Summit news release). Among the proposals discussed were:

• a GMS visa to facilitate travel of third-country nationals to the subregion
• an action plan on trade and investment facilitation
• an educational fund for the GMS that would provide scholarships at the tertiary level to GMS nationals, including ethnic minorities
• the expansion of air linkages and development of an aviation network
• joint development of natural gas resources
• establishment of a training center for agriculture, forestry and fishery extension
• the establishment of special border economic zones in northeastern Thailand

After thorough deliberations, the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) requested the various working groups and forums to further develop these proposals and recommend the necessary action to the GMS senior officials.

SOM also discussed ongoing resource mobilization efforts to support priority subregional projects. An ADB mission visited Europe early this year and reported an increasing focus of several development partners to Asia, and interest in the GMS. Plans for conducting the high-level public-private sector consultation meeting, mandated by the 11th GMS Ministerial Conference in September 2002, were also discussed. The consultation meeting is intended to inform the private sector of development plans in the GMS from a subregional perspective, and of business opportunities arising from subregional initiatives and flagship programs.

The SOM also reviewed the progress of work on:

• the East-West Economic Corridor Development
• the pilot-testing of single-stop customs inspection procedures in selected border sites
• the establishment of the working group on agriculture
• ongoing negotiations for the annexes and protocols of the cross-border transport agreement
• the implementation of the Phnom Penh Plan on Development Management

These were reported in the various meetings held recently on these subject areas.

ADB staff informed the SOM that it is currently preparing the GMS Subregional Cooperation Strategy and Program (SCSP). The document will be prepared in consultation with the Governments of the participating countries and stakeholders concerned. The SCSP will embody the ADB's program of assistance to the GMS Program for 2004 to 2006, in support of the 10-Year GMS Strategic Framework endorsed by the GMS Summit.