Second Meeting of the GMS Subregional Energy Sector Forum (SEF-2): Summary of Discussions

The SEF-2 meeting will discuss the medium term (2008-2015) road map for expanded GMS energy cooperation and will consider the proposed work plan for realizing the road map, after a careful assessment of the priority activities and timetable of the work plan. The first SEF meeting held in Bangkok in December 2004, agreed to establish the SEF to oversee the expansion of cooperation to other energy sub-sectors per the request of the GMS countries. ADB shortly approved RETA 6301: Developing the GMS Energy Sector Strategy, whose study was completed recently with findings on various feasible energy mix scenarios. This serves as the basis for the medium term road map and work plan, which would be presented for consideration in this meeting. The SEF-2 meeting will also exchange information on developments in the energy sector of GMS countries.
The SEF-2 meeting was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam on 22 November 2008 and co-organized by the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Viet Nam (ERAV)-Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It was attended by representatives of the six GMS member countries, as well as by representatives of ADB, Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mekong River Commission (MRC), RTE International, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and World Bank (WB).