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dam-l MEKONG: Asian Development Bank plans
>
>From: Bob Stensholt - Mekong Research Network <Mekong@arts.monash.edu.au>
>Subject: ADB PR on GMS MInisterial Meeting
>
>ADB News Release No. 56/98
>15 September 1998
>
>New Cooperation Plans on Agenda of Greater Mekong Subregion Meeting at
>ADB
>
>To counter effects of the "Asian contagion," new approaches to joint
>projects will be discussed at the 8th Conference on Economic
>Cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) at the Asian
>Development Bank in Manila from 30 September to 2 October 1998.
>
>
>Building on the framework of existing GMS projects such as transport
>corridors, one new concept that will be discussed is the development
>of "economic zones" such as industrial estates which could be located
>near the border of neighboring countries. Adjacent countries such as
>Thailand and Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), for example,
>could exploit comparative advantages in capital, natural resources and
>labor for mutual benefit. Investors, both domestic and foreign, could
>invest in an industrial estate on either side of the border, combining
>relatively cheap labour and raw materials from Lao PDR with technology
>and higher skills from Thailand, producing for the GMS subregional
>markets and beyond. This will assist in the diversification,
>development and restructuring of both economies, the ultimate
>objective of GMS cooperation.
>
>The meeting, which will be attended by Ministers and senior officials
>from Cambodia, People's Republic of China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand
>and Viet Nam, will reaffirm the GMS countries' long-term commitment to
>economic cooperation in the face of the Asian financial
>crisis. Although the crisis is slowing down projects in the energy
>sector largely because of lower power demand in Thailand - there is
>continuing progress in other sectors such as transport,
>telecommunications, human resource development, tourism and
>environment.
>
>Ten GMS infrastructure projects have been either completed or are
>under implementation. About US$1 billion of resources has been
>mobilized to finance these projects, including more than US$320
>million from the ADB and more than US$230 million in cofinancing. Five
>new infrastructure projects are at advanced stages of preparation,
>including a second East-West transport corridor project linking
>northern Thailand, Lao PDR and Viet Nam.
>
>A Draft Work Program 1998-2000 will also be presented. Officials will
>focus not only on projects but also on reducing non-physical barriers
>to cross-border activity such as streamlining customs procedures and
>regulations relating to drivers' licenses and vehicle registration.
>
>There will be a Senior Officials' Meeting on 30 September and a
>Ministers' Meeting on 2 October, with October 1 reserved for
>discussions. Representatives from bilateral and multilateral agencies
>will also attend.
>
>The ministers will be Ith Phraing, Secretary of State, Ministry of
>Industry, Mines and Energy, Cambodia; Jin Li Qun, Vice Minister of
>Finance, People's Republic of China; Phao Bounnaphol, Minister,
>Ministry of Construction, Transport, Posts and Communications, Lao
>PDR; Brig. Gen. David Abel, Minister, State Peace and Development
>Council, Myanmar; Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Deputy Prime Minister of
>Thailand; and Tran Xuan Gia, Minister, Ministry of Planning and
>Investment, Viet Nam.
>
>The GMS countries border the Mekong River and share a population of
>nearly 240 million and 2.3 million square kilometers of land. The ADB
>is coordinating initiatives to promote economic cooperation in a
>region once divided by political conflict.
>
>
>
>Bob Stensholt
>Australian Mekong Research Network
>Monash Asia Institute
>Monash University
>Clayton Vic 3186 Australia
>Ph +61 3 99059260 Fax +61 3 99055370
>www.monash.edu.au/mai/mekong.htm
>
>
>
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>____________________________________________________________
>
>
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Aviva Imhof, Mekong Program Coordinator
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley CA 94703 USA
Tel: + 1 510 848 1155 (ext. 312), Fax: + 1 510 848 1008
Email: aviva@irn.org, Web: http://www.irn.org
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