9th GMS Economic Corridors Forum and 22nd GMS Ministerial Conference

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) organized a Development Partners' Meeting, the 9th Economic Corridors Forum, and the 22nd GMS Ministerial Conference on 18-20 September 2017 in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. These events coincide with the 25th Anniversary of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Program, leading up to the Sixth GMS Summit of Leaders in March 2018 in Viet Nam.

The 9th Economic Corridors Forum discussed measures to deepen and widen connectivity along GMS economic corridors, such as multimodal transport, logistics development, and role of the private sector.  The forum also discussed strengthening multisector and intersector linkages, including border area development, role of the governors forum, and cross-border e-commerce.

At the 22nd GMS Ministerial Conference, the Ministers acknowledged the program's achievements as it celebrates 25 years of economic cooperation, and endorsed a 5-year action plan framework. The ministers welcomed the preparation of the Ha Noi Action Plan 2018-2022, which calls for an expansion of economic corridors to boost connectivity between countries as well as within rural and urban centers to ensure a more equitable distribution of the benefits of economic growth. They also endorsed the GMS Regional Investment Framework 2022, to support the the Ha Noi Action Plan through a pipeline of 222 investment and technical assistance projects valued at $64 billion.

The Ministers also endorsed the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy 2016-2025 and the initiation of a new Working Group on GMS Health Cooperation, welcomed the GMS strategy to promote safe and environment-friendly agriculture products, and noted the development of a new GMS Transport Sector Strategy. Read the news release.

These meetings brought together the GMS Ministers and Senior Officials of the six GMS countries (Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam); the GMS Business Council; and development partners.