Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Senior Officials Meeting opens in Hanoi

Hanoi (VNA) – The Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Senior Officials Meeting
(SOM) opened in Hanoi on August 19 in the presence of the Asian Development
Bank’s (ADB) representative.

At the function, the heads of delegations from Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar,
Thailand and the host country reviewed the results of development cooperation
within the framework of the Vientiane Action Programme (VPA) for the 2008-2012
period relating to the results of the second GMS economic corridor forum and the
GMS business forum.

They will also discuss reports to the 16 th GMS Ministerial Conference on the
GMS railway link, the action plan for the second phase of the key environment
programme, technical support to promote renewable energies and energy efficiency
within GMS and the key agricultural support programme for 2011-2015 period.

The initial draft of the new GMS long-term strategic framework, action programmes
on facilitating trade and transportation within GMS and the action plan and
strategy for the southern GMS economic corridor have also tabled for discussion.


The General Director of the ADB’s Southeast Asia Department Kunio Senga, who is
co-chair of the SOM, said he hoped GMS countries will work out measures to
enhance infrastructure, organise cross border trade, improve the business
environment and ensure social and environmental protection throughout the
sub-region.

Since 1992, six GMS countries have been involved in a comprehensive economic
cooperation programme in transport, energy, telecommunications, human resources
development, the environment, natural resources management, trade facilitation,
private investment, tourism and agriculture with assistance from the ADB and
other development partners.

The 16 th GMS Ministerial Conference themed “GMS in the next decade: New
frontiers of cooperation” is scheduled to open in Hanoi on August
20.-Enditem