Mekong Development Forum,

Stockholm, 3 - 4 April 2006

The Mekong Development Forum, organized by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Swedish Trade Council, presented the development issues confronting the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), and discussed opportunities for investment and deepened partnership possibilities that are emerging in this context. The Forum also had an occasion to share lessons learnt from Nordic regional cooperation and integration with GMS countries.

The Forum brings together senior representatives from the GMS Governments, private sector entities, European development organizations, non-government organizations, and think tanks.

For the Nordic private sector in particular, the Forum has provided an opportunity to exchange views with GMS representatives on investment needs and delivery modalities, including the issue of public-private partnerships. Cooperating with both public and private sector development partners is crucial to optimize the use of resources, create a greater impact, and accelerate the attainment of the long-term objective of sustainable development and poverty reduction in the region.

The GMS Economic Cooperation Program began in 1992 with assistance from the Asian Development Bank. In just over a decade, the GMS countries have undergone significant economic transformation and the sub-region is emerging as a key factor in the overall development of the Southeast Asian region in view of its strategic role as a land-bridge between the huge economies of China and India and the rest of the region. While the gains from transition and transformation have been considerable, GMS is still faced with complex and sometimes difficult challenges. Sound environmental management, reliable energy supply, and improved transport connectivity are all needed to achieve the development goals of the sub-region. GMS countries participating in the Forum were Cambodia, People's Republic of China, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

The Mekong Development Forum will in particular focus on the selected themes of environmental management, energy and regional power trade, and transport and connectivity. Important crosscutting issues, such as capacity building, governance, gender equality, and communicable diseases, will be incorporated in the discussions.