Purpose

The theme "Strengthening Pathways for Sustained Progress in the Greater Mekong Subregion". The meeting aims to review progress in, and remaining issues and concerns regarding the development of the GMS corridors as real "pathways" of regional integration.

Objectives

1. To discuss the development of GMS regional corridors focusing on the GMS East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), North-South Economic Corridor (NSEC) and the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC);
2. To draw attention to issues constraining the development of these economic corridors and to propose actions needed to accelerate the development within the context of the new GMS Strategic Framework;
3. To further strengthen coordination and networking among various sectors, groups, and entities involved in economic corridor development; and
4. To enhance efforts to increase the participation of the private sector and provincial authorities, and to promote public-private partnership in GMS economic corridor development.

Expected outputs

• Endorsement of the recommendations of the corridor-specific symposia covering actions in such areas as infrastructure, logistics, transport and trade facilitation, and investments in agro-industry and tourism;
• Agreement on institutional arrangement and coordination mechanisms at the provincial, country and corridor levels to supplement the overall ECF framework leading to ECF-4, including corridor-specific task forces representing provincial authorities and private sector as well as national government, increased consultation at provincial level between public and private sector, and requisite analytical work to support needed investments;
• Endorsement of the proposed corridor monitoring system for trade and transport facilitation along GMS economic corridors; and
• Agreement on possible new sector investments in such areas as urban development, clean and renewable energy, and agricultural trade.

Target participants

Participation is by invitation only

• GMS Ministers and Senior Officials
• Officials of relevant ministries/agencies,
• Hgh-level local/provincial authorities (governors or their equivalent),
• Representatives of the GMS Business Forum,
• Representatives from provincial chambers of commerce, industry associations, prospective investors and other stakeholders such as those from academe and
• Development partners