Foreign ministers from Japan and five Mekong nations this month identified areas of cooperation under a new strategy and reviewed the progress of joint projects in the East-West Economic Corridor and Southern Economic Corridor.

Myanmar has opened an electronic company registry, which will help simplify and reduce the cost of setting up a business in one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies.

Applying the Industrial Pollution Projection System is an important first step toward mainstreaming pollution concerns into strategic planning in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Asian Development Bank President Takehiko Nakao reaffirmed ADB's support to the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy in a video message shown at the 8th ACMECS Summit on 16 June in Bangkok.

Five Mekong River Basin countries have agreed on a 5-year master plan that includes promoting the smooth flow of goods and people in the East-West Economic Corridor and Southern Economic Corridor of the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Myanmar is putting in place a national safeguards system to better balance rapid economic growth and environmental sustainability.

International Finance Corporation is providing $15 million in long-term financing to the International Bulk Terminal (Thilawa) Company Limited to develop and operate one of the first bulk terminals in Myanmar. 

The Asian Development Bank's operations in Myanmar address the strategic areas of infrastructure connectivity, human capital and skills development, and structural and institutional reform to improve the inclusiveness of the country’s economic growth.

Southeast Asia continues to benefit from the rise in global trade and the pickup in commodity prices. It is expected to maintain its 2017 growth rate of 5.2% in both 2018 and 2019, according to the Asian Development Outlook 2018.