Greater Mekong Subregion

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Progress and Achievements

The GMS Program has accelerated economic cooperation among the six member countries and the first ever the GMS Summit of Leaders was held in Phnom Penh in November 2002. The GMS Program has had many significant achievements, among which the following are most significant.

Peace Dividend

One of the Program's most significant accomplishments has been the increase in goodwill among member countries, which has contributed to increasing trust and better relations.

The peace dividend of the GMS Program is best reflected in regional stability and a better understanding among the countries, and, in turn, this leads to higher investments and stronger growth in the Subregion.

Connects nations and links people

The initial focus of the GMS Program was on the provision of infrastructure. Highest priority was accorded to the development of the subregional road corridors, instead of new construction. Transnational road links that existed throughout the subregion were given particular attention.

By 2012, all mainland Southeast Asian countries will be interconnected with each other, by a series of all-weather roads or "corridors." Together with improvements in power and telecommunications, these roads will play a key role in increasing the connectivity of the GMS countries and thereby promote closer economic cooperation. Increased connectivity will lead to greater economic opportunities, which will assist reduce poverty.

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Reduces nonphysical barriers

The GMS Program provides the framework and institutional mechanism needed to implement region-wide policy initiatives for effective regional cooperation. Complementing investments in transport infrastructure measures are being undertaken to reduce the non-physical impediments to the cross-border movement of goods and people.

All GMS Governments have signed the landmark GMS agreement to facilitate cross-border movement of goods and people in the subregion, and are finalizing the related annexes and protocols, which will provide the implementing guidelines for the cross-border arrangements.

In the area of power trade, the GMS countries signed in November 2002 an agreement that will promote power trade in the subregion, enabling them to coordinate and cooperate in the planning and operation of their power systems. The implementing guidelines of the power trade agreement are being negotiated. The agreement to initiate the first stage of regional power trade was signed in July 2005. Institutions have been set up to carry out priority tasks to promote power trading.

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Keeps the environment healthy

Since the onset of the GMS Program, it has been recognized that cooperative action is critical to resolve environmental problems that transcend national boundaries. Environmental cooperation under the GMS Program is increasingly concerned with broader transborder issues, such as the cumulative effects of development in the subregion.

A Strategic Environment Framework has been adopted to guide investment decisions in critical sectors and areas, and mitigate potential adverse effects of economic development. Several important technical assistance projects to collect relevant data, establish a monitoring and information sharing system, develop skills, and build institutional capacity for environmental management have been implemented.

A GMS Atlas for the Environment has been produced by ADB and the United Nations Environment Programme, which provides basic environmental information on the region, and highlights the challenges faced by the GMS countries in protecting the environment.

The Core Environment Program through the initiative of the GMS countries was endorsed by the Second GMS Summit last July 2005. This program will establish sound environmental management systems and institutions, and mainstream environmental and biodiversity concerns in development. Its flagship component will establish biodiversity protection corridors within priority conservation landscape in the subregion. Furthermore, cooperation on the environment is being pursued in partnership with other development partners, NGOs, such as the Governments of the Netherlands, Sweden, Mekong River Commission and the World Wildlife Fund among others.

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Develops human resources

The GMS Program provides a framework for countries to jointly address regional challenges affecting the development of human resources. Human resource development initiatives include harmonization of training standards and accreditation/certification, mitigation of the transborder spread of communicable diseases, improvement of health and education services for ethnic minorities in border areas, and training for enhancing the capacity of GMS officials in development management (Phnom Penh Plan: PPP).

The PPP finances scholarship programs selectively to train development managers in development planning and management, which is in response to the need to develop a critical mass of middle- and senior-level management and staff in the public sector in the six GMS countries.

Forges new and innovative partnerships

Innovative project financing arrangements have also been created. The successful financing, implementation, and operation of projects serve as models for public-private partnerships in the power sector. In addition, partnerships between public and private sectors in the tourism industry have helped establish, through joint marketing, the GMS as a single tourist destination, offering a rich array of cultural, historical and natural resources.

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