Board Information Paper on the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program, 4th GMS Summit Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar 19-20 December 2011

The idea that tourists swimming in a jungle waterfall or strolling around an ancient temple can help reduce poverty seems too good to be true. But it is a fact: an increasing body of research clearly demonstrates that tourism can help the poor.

This GMS E-News is a quarterly publication to provide readers with an update on activities and major developments in pursuit of accelerated development of the countries sharing the Mekong River.
In this issue:

The Greater Mekong Subregion Strategic Framework 2012–2022 builds on the substantial progress the GMS program has made and the likely global and regional trends.

BANGKOK, THAILAND (20 February 2012) - The management of food, water and energy resources in the Greater Mekong Subregion will be the most critical challenge of the coming decade, requiring careful balance of economic and environmental interests and better management of natural resources, a conference on the future of the region heard today.

BANGKOK, THAILAND (17 February 2012)  – Policy-makers from the Greater Mekong Subregion will meet in Bangkok next week to discuss the challenges and opportunities for balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.

With increasing fuel demand projected for the Greater Mekong Subregion, biofuels could make a significant contribution to offsetting oil demand and to increased agricultural and rural incomes.

In this issue:

A more integrated, harmonious, prosperous, and equitable Greater Mekong Subregion requires agriculture to be the lead contributing sector. Regional cooperation in the agriculture sector is guided by the Core Agriculture Support Program (CASP), which is implemented by the Working Group on Agriculture.

Under CASP Phase I (2006-2010), GMS member countries expanded agriculture trading, resulting in sizable gains in the global market.