10th GMS Economic Corridors Forum (ECF-10)

Event

GMS East-West Economic Corridor. This aerial view of the border check point on the Lao side of the Mekong River shows the second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, which connects Mukdahan province in Thailand with Savannakhet in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Photo: ADB.

Extending Corridors for Inclusive Connectivity in the GMS

13 December 2018 Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar

The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Corridors Forum (ECF) in 2018 marks the 20th year of the GMS economic corridor development approach since its formal adoption at the 6th GMS Ministerial Conference in 1998 to accelerate subregional development. It is the 10th year of the forum since its inaugural meeting in Kunming, People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 2008. This is also the first ECF following the 6th GMS Summit in March 2018, which adopted the Hanoi Action Plan 2018–2022 that has among its key elements a spatial strategy focused on the economic corridors.

Hosted by the Government of Myanmar, ECF-10 will be held on 13 December 2018 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, with the theme “Extending Corridors for Inclusive Connectivity in the GMS.”

Provisional Program - Agenda

ECF-10 will review specific initiatives aimed at accelerating the development of the economic corridors in the subregion by effectively contributing to the pursuit of the 3Cs: connectivity, competitiveness, and community. It will define recommended actions for their refinement and effective implementation.

GMS Senior Officials' Meeting
ECF 10
Documents
Contacts

Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
12 December 2018
Venue: Chindwin Room, Kaytumadi Building, MGallery Hotel

Senior officials of the Greater Mekong Subregion will meet in Nay Pyi Taw on 12 December 2018 to review the draft Progress Report and Updated GMS Regional Investment Framework 2022, assess progress under the sector working groups, and discuss the project database and statistical database.

The ECF-10 Host (Myanmar) and GMS Secretariat (Asian Development Bank) will also brief senior officials on the status and topics for discussion at the 10th GMS Economic Corridors Forum (ECF-10), as well as on the expected flow of proceedings and possible key points and issues that may be raised at the forum.

Download the provisional program-agenda (137 KB).

Download meeting documents:

Venue: M Gallery Nay Pyi Taw by Sofitel

0830 - 0900	Registration
0900 - 0955	Welcome Remarks: GMS Minister of Myanmar (Chair)
	Statements by Heads of Delegation from Cambodia, PRC, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam
	Deputy Director General, Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB) (Co-Chair)
0955 - 1000	Group Photo of Heads of Delegation

Part I. Initiatives to Strengthen Connectivity along the GMS Corridors

1000 - 1045	Session 1: Assessment of the State of Development of GMS Economic Corridors
	Presentation of the findings of the study on the Assessment of GMS Economic Corridors. Presenters: Head of Study Team from ADB
	Open Discussion
1045 - 1100	Break
1100 - 1145	Session 2: Proposed Pilot Study on Section-Specific Planning for North- South Economic Corridor in Myanmar and the PRC
	Presentation of the concept and approach to the study for the development of certain sections/subcorridor of the GMS North-South Economic Corridor, which can be used as a template for similar studies for the development of other subcorridors/sections of the NSEC or other GMS economic corridors. Presenter: ADB
	Open Discussion
1145 - 1320	Lunch

Part II. Initiatives to Strengthen Competitiveness of the GMS Corridors

1320 - 1430	Session 3: Panel Discussion on Logistics Development
	A panel of representatives from the GMS countries will discuss logistics development as a key ingredient in the development of the GMS economic corridors. Moderator: Mr. Hideaki Iwasaki, Country Director, Thailand Resident Mission, ADB Panelists: H.E. Chhieng Pich, Director General, General Department of Logistics, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Cambodia (confirmed) Representative from the Lao PDR (TBD) Mr. Aung Khin Myint, Chair, Myanmar Transport and Logistics Federation (confirmed) Mr. Chalat Wongsa-nguan, Chairman of GMS-FRETA (Thailand) (TBC) Mr. Alex Tran, Viet Nam Logistics Association, Viet Nam (confirmed) Mr. Masahiro Nishimura, Senior Transport Specialist, ADB
	Open Discussion
1430 - 1505	Session 4: Presentation on the Implementation of GMS E-Commerce Platform and Report on the GMS Governors Forum (12 June 2018)
	Two presentations by representatives from the PRC, with an introduction by ADB (Deputy Director General, East Asia Department): A case study on the implementation of the GMS E-commerce Platform and the activities of the Business Alliance of GMS Cross-Border E-Commerce Cooperation Platform (Presenter: TBD) Outcomes of the GMS Governors Forum held on 12 June 2018 in Kunming, PRC (Presenter: TBD)
	Open Discussion and Wrap-Up (to be moderated by ADB)
1505 - 1555	Break

Part III. Initiatives for Building a More Inclusive Community along the GMS Corridors

1520 - 1555	Session 5: Presentation on Initiatives under the GMS Working Group on Health Cooperation
	The Working Group on Health Cooperation (WGHC) to present on the latest draft of the GMS Health Cooperation Strategy 2019-2023, including on planned interventions in border areas, with migrant and mobile populations, and health impact assessments in Special Economic Zones (SEZ). Presenters: Dr. Than Tun Aung, Ministry of Public Health and Sports, Myanmar (Chair of 2nd WGHC meeting) and Ms. Azusa Sato, ADB
	Open Discussion
1555 - 1630	Session 6: Presentation on Supporting Safe Labor Migration in the GMS
	The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will present on its ongoing program, Poverty Reduction through Safe Migration, Skills Development and Enhanced Job Placement (PROMISE). The presentation will include an analysis of labor migration in sections of GMS corridors with a comparative overview of Cambodia-Thailand and Myanmar-Thailand corridors, focusing on contextual challenges, IOM will share examples of IOM’s work with private sector partners on skills development for increased competitiveness and mobility, and related opportunities for GMS governments and the private sector to promote international investment and access to the global markets. Presenter: Ms. Anna Platonova, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
	Open Discussion
1630 - 1645	Closing Session Wrap-up by ADB Closing Remarks by Host: Myanmar

Participants

Participation is by invitation only. Target participants are Ministers from GMS countries; GMS National Coordinators and Senior Officials; other officials from concerned ministries/agencies; local and provincial authorities; officers/staff of the Asian Development Bank (ADB); representatives from the private sector; and development partner organizations. The ADB delegation will be led by Southeast Asia Department (SERD) Management.

Documents

Assessment of the GMS Economic Corridors - Integrative Report
Assessment of the GMS Economic Corridors - Cambodia
Assessment of the GMS Economic Corridors - People's Republic of China
Assessment of the GMS Economic Corridors - Lao People's Democratic Republic
Assessment of the GMS Economic Corridors - Myanmar
Assessment of the GMS Economic Corridors - Thailand
Assessment of the GMS Economic Corridors - Viet Nam

Contacts

Ms. Rhodora Concepcion Thailand Resident Mission, Southeast Asia Department Asian Development Bank Ms. Rowena Sancio Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division Southeast Asia Department Asian Development Bank Send inquiries to the GMS Secretariat.

Last Updated: 20 November 2018