Greater Mekong Subregion

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The GMS Program - The Way Forward

GMS Strategic Framework and Flagship Programs

A 10 year strategic framework for the GMS Program was formulated by the six countries with the assistance of ADB in 2001. This strategic framework was endorsed by the six GMS Leaders at their first Summit held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in November 2002. It envisions a well-integrated and prosperous Mekong subregion – free of poverty and committed to protecting the environment that is vital to the subregion’s future wellbeing. The framework focuses on five development thrusts to achieve this goal:

• strengthen infrastructure linkages through a multisectoral approach
• facilitate cross-border trade and investment
• enhance private sector participation in development and improve its competitiveness
• develop human resources and skill competencies
• protect the environment and promote sustainable use of the subregion’s shared natural resources.

Strategically, the GMS vision seeks to achieve enhanced connectivity, increased competitiveness, and a greater sense of community in the GMS. Greater connectivity will help to physically integrate the region. Road, rail, water and air transport systems, together with telecommunications and power systems, are to be strengthened to set up better networks among the six GMS countries and to fortify linkages with other networks in Asia and the rest of the world.

Physical connectivity will help to improve the region’s competitiveness through greater access to markets. To ensure the full benefits from greater connectivity, corresponding attention is needed to complementary software such as facilitating trade and investment, the movement of goods and people across borders, and strengthening capacities.

Various elements of human resource development, disease and drug control, tourism promotion, and protection of the environment, shall also be addressed on a regional basis. The aim is to ensure the benefits of enhanced connectivity and improved competitiveness in terms of higher incomes and improved quality of life are shared widely to contribute to a greater sense of community.

Support for greater connectivity imposes a corresponding responsibility to take precautions against the negative impacts through transmission of communicable disease, degradation of the environment and illegal trafficking in people. Protecting and empowering vulnerable groups such as women is essential to achieve equity in the GMS.

ADB’s Regional Cooperation Strategy and Program for the GMS

In March 2004, ADB approved a Regional Cooperation Strategy and Program (RCSP) for the GMS. The RCSP supports both the GMS strategic framework, and ADB’s overarching objective of reducing poverty in its developing member countries.

As such, the objective of the RCSP for the GMS is poverty reduction, which is to be achieved by implementing the GMS vision for enhanced connectivity, increased competitiveness, and a greater sense of community. Accordingly, ADB’s strategy supports pro-poor and sustainable growth through

• strengthening connectivity and facilitating cross-border movements of goods and people and tourism
• integrating national markets to promote economic efficiency and private-sector development
• addressing human development through health and other social, economic, and capacity-building issues associated with subregional linkages
• environmental and shared natural resource management—especially of the watershed systems of the Mekong River—to help ensure sustainable development and conservation of natural resources.

An essential objective of the RCSP is to incorporate regional priorities into the operational pipeline and to complement country strategies and programming.

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