The Government of Thailand has announced that its ambitious high-speed railway project connecting the country to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) through the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is scheduled to begin operations in 2030.
The Twenty-sixth Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Subregional Transport Forum (STF-26) was held on 26 and 27 of September 2024 as an in-person meeting in Beijing, People’s Republic of China. The Forum, with the theme “Strengthening Supply Chains and Logistics by Enhancing the Collaboration with Private Sector in Promoting a Sustainable GMS Transport System”, was organized by the Research Institute of Highway, under the Ministry of Transport of PRC), with support and attendance of the GMS Secretariat.
Since 2020, the coronavirus disease pandemic have caused various constraints on global supply chains and logistics, significantly affecting the supply of goods, their prices, and people’s livelihoods. The key will be how to secure supply chains and logistics, without being affected by these external factors.
The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) in Cambodia marked a significant upsurge in trade activities in January and February 2024. The trade volume through this economic corridor reached $628 million, reflecting a robust growth of 38.3% compared to the same period in 2023.
The construction of the fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, an infrastructure project connecting the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and Thailand, is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2024. This bridge spans the Mekong River, linking Bolikhamxay province in Lao PDR with Bueng Kan province in Thailand. The project is a testament to the ongoing cooperation between the two nations and is expected to enhance travel and trade within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
Greater Mekong Subregion Secretariat
Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division,
Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank
Address: 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Metro Manila, Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 8632 4444 Fax: +63 2 8636 2226