Developing transport infrastructure in tandem with policies and procedures for crossing borders and promoting trade has been central to efforts to interconnect the Greater Mekong Subregion countries.
Transport lies at the heart of Greater Mekong Subregion cooperation. The development of physical infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, in tandem with policies and procedures for crossing borders and developing trade along key routes, has been central to efforts to forge a truly interconnected subregion.
Physically connecting the countries of the subregion was one of the first initiatives of the GMS program when it was founded in 1992. The countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion have acknowledged that in order to cooperate in trade, tourism, and investment, and to realize the other benefits of the region, they must expand the road links and border crossings that connect them.
This is being done through the development of “economic corridors”, which are geographic areas, often along major highways, where a variety of development projects are undertaken to maximize their development benefits. This might include projects involving infrastructure, laws and regulations, market development, and the improvement of urban centers. Economic corridors bring a wide range of benefits, far beyond what single projects deliver in terms of development impact.
The three main GMS corridors—the East–West, North–South and Southern economic corridors—have improved the lives of millions of people in the Greater Mekong Subregion. These corridors are being enhanced with secondary roads that extend their benefits to nearby communities most in need, and other roads that link to strategic seaports in the subregion. The regulatory details of how people and goods can best move along these corridors are also currently being worked out.
Related
• GMS Transport Sector Strategy 2030
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The Thirteenth Meeting of the Subregional Transport Forum (STF-13) was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 27-28 October 2009. The Meeting was jointly organized by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Cambodia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The Thirteenth Meeting of the Subregional Transport Forum (STF-13) was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 27-28 October 2009. The Meeting was jointly organized by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Cambodia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Flagship study that analyzes major challenges in developing regional infrastructure, particularly transport and energy through regional cooperation towards a seamless Asia.
The Twelfth Meeting of the Subregional Transport Forum (STF-12) was held in Da Nang City, Viet Nam on 12-14 August 2008. The Meeting was jointly organized by the Ministry of Transport of Viet Nam and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The objective of the Meeting was to discuss recent developments, key issues, and future plans in the GMS transport sector, with particular focus on maximizing the development impact of the network and on the problems that remain as regards the conduct of transport and trade operations along the GMS economic corridors and possible ways of addressing them.
The Twelfth Meeting of the Subregional Transport Forum (STF-12) was held in Da Nang City, Viet Nam on 12-14 August 2008. The Meeting was jointly organized by the Ministry of Transport of Viet Nam and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The objective of the Meeting was to discuss recent developments, key issues, and future plans in the GMS transport sector, with particular focus on maximizing the development impact of the network and on the problems that remain as regards the conduct of transport and trade operations along the GMS economic corridors and possible ways of addressing them.
The transport sector is critical to economic cooperation among the countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Soon after its inception in 1992, the GMS Economic Cooperation Program developed a GMS Transport Master Plan (1995) to encourage commercial exchange among the countries to spur development, generate employment opportunities, and assist GMS countries’ programs to reduce poverty. The Transport Master Plan served well to develop the economic corridors that are the foundation of the GMS Program.
The Eleventh Meeting of the Subregional Transport Forum (STF-11) was held in Bangkok, Thailand on 8-9 May 2007.
The Tenth Meeting of the Subregional Trasport Forum (STF-10) was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 22-23 March 2006. The Meeting was jointly organized by the Ministry of Communications, Transport and Construction (MCTPC) of the Govenrment of Lao PDR and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The Ninth Meeting (the Meeting) of the Subregional Transport Forum (the STF) was held in Beijing, People’s Republic of China (PRC) on 1-2 June 2005. The Meeting was jointly organized by the Ministry of Communications (MOC) of the Government of the PRC and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
This publication summarizes the proceedings of the Ninth Meeting of the Subregional Transport Forum (STF-9) held in Beijing, People's Republic of China on 1-2 June 2005.