Purpose

The theme of the Conference is GMS in the Next Decade: New Frontiers of Cooperation. It will consist of the:

1. Senior Officials' Meeting (morning of 19 August 2010);
2. Development Partners Meeting (afternoon of 19 August) involving interactive discussions with the Senior Officials on the broad directions and key elements of the next GMS long-term strategic framework (2012-2022), and to ensure alignment and consistency of these new strategic directions with the partners' own long-term strategic priorities for the subregion; and
3. The Ministerial Meeting on 20 August 2010. The Ministerial Retreat in the afternoon of 20 August 2010 will enable GMS Ministers to exchange views in an informal and interactive setting on key issues and challenges in the GMS Program and to provide strategic inputs and guidance for the next ten-year GMS Strategic Framework (2012-2022).

Objectives

• To give broad directions and identify key elements for the next GMS long-term strategic framework (2012-2022);
• To finalize and endorse a plan of actions for improved transport and trade facilitation in the GMS, to support further development of economic corridors; and
• To take up other major issues, concerns and plans in the various GMS sectors of cooperation.

Expected outputs

• Ministerial endorsement of the Report of the Chair of the Senior Officials' Meeting covering the following:
  • Strategic Framework for Connecting GMS Railways
  • Development of Phase II of the GMS Core Environment Program-Biodiversity Conservation Corridor Initiative
  • RETA for Promoting Renewable Energy, Clean Fuels, and Energy Efficiency in the GMS [formerly RETA for Promoting the Transfer of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technology in the GMS]
  • Core Agriculture Support Program Phase II (CASP II) 2011-2015
  • Background Paper on the new GMS Long Term Strategic Framework
  • Program of Actions for Transport and Trade Facilitation in the GMS
  • Strategy and Action Plan for the GMS Southern Economic Corridor
• Ministerial endorsement of the Report of the GMS Business Forum
• Ministerial endorsement of the Report of the Chair of the Development Partners Meeting
• Joint Ministerial Statement

Target participants

Participation is by invitation only

• GMS Ministers
• GMS Senior Officials headed by the GMS National Coordinators
• ADB and Other Development Partners