Publications

Building digitally-connected Greater Mekong Subreion Economic Corridors

The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Regional Investment Framework 2023–2025 (RIF 2025) is a three-year rolling pipeline of near-term priority projects which align with the strategies, goals, and thematic priorities set in the GMS Economic Cooperation Program Strategic Framework 2030 (GMS 2030). This new RIF incorporates new project criteria and has been prepared through an extensive consultative process.

The GMS Secretariat, in close coordination with GMS countries, prepared a results framework to trace the implementation of GMS-2030 and its progress toward achieving the vision and program mission.

The GMS Secretariat initiated a study to explore new approaches to strengthening development partnerships in the GMS Program based on comprehensive consultations with development partners and member countries. This report presents the findings and recommendations of the study.

The 26th Annual Meeting of the GMS Working Group on Environment was held on 26-28 October 2022 with a focus on: “Building climate and disaster resilience and promoting climate-smart landscapes across the GMS region.”

The Government of Viet Nam, with the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) as co-organizer, hosted the 50th Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Tourism Working Group (TWG-50) on 11 October 2022 in Quang Nam, Viet Nam. The meeting was attended by senior and mid-level officials representing the National Tourism Organizations of the six GMS countries, MTCO, development partners and organizations including ASEAN Japan Centre (AJC), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), and Asian Development Bank.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) of the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) hosted the 25th Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Subregional Transport Forum (STF-25) on 14 June 2022 in hybrid format, in-person in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and virtually through Zoom. The Forum took on the theme “Taking Action on GMS 2030 Strategy and COVID-19 Plan with Emerging Ideas”. 

The 19th Annual Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Working Group on Agriculture (WGA) featured the theme "Adaptation of Greater Mekong Subregion Agriculture in the context of Climate Change, and the Water-Food-Energy (WFE) Nexus." It was held ​in-person in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, and via videoconference on 21–23 June 2022.  

The Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) with assistance of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) virtually convened the 49th Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Tourism Working Group (TWG-49) on 12 May 2022. The meeting was attended by representatives of the National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) of the six GMS countries, MTCO, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

ADB has worked out a core pipeline of projects for 2022–2024 that uses more responsive financing modalities and considers Viet Nam’s priorities for medium- and long-term post-pandemic recovery.