GMS ministers support 2012-2020 Strategic Framework

August 05, 2011 | 11:59

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Ministers of the six Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) countries agreed to totally support the GMS Strategic Framework for 2012-2022 during their meeting in the Cambodia capital city of Phnom Penh on August 4.

Myanmar

At the 17 th GMS Ministerial Conference, the ministers agreed to submit the new strategic framework to their leaders for endorsement at the 4 th GMS Summit scheduled for this December in Myanmar.

The framework will orient the development of GMS economic corridors, including investment in urban and rural infrastructure, further focus on designing software necessary for the effective use of infrastructure at present and in the future, as well as settlement of common social and environmental concerns.

With this framework, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will support GMS countries in an effort to make the best use of the region’s limited natural resources through boosting investment in strategic areas.

The bank will continue its support for GMS countries in accessing cooperation opportunities, said ADB deputy general director Bindu Lohani.

Established in 1992 with the support of the Asian Development Bank, the GMS programme has set out nine priority sectors of cooperation, including agriculture, energy, environment, human resource development, investment, telecommunications, tourism, transport and transport infrastructure, and trade facilitation.

During the past two decades, the GMS programme made important contributions to poverty reduction and socio-economic development in the region.

GMS groups the countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam.

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