The GMs Energy Transition Task Force (ETTF) met in Siem Reap on 4-5 December 2023 to discuss updates and plans related to its work streams, including trends, opportunities and related initiatives in the region.
The meeting agreed on these next steps for 2024.
The 6th Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Urban Development Working Group (UDWG) was held via web-based conferencing on 21 June 2023.
The 52nd GMS Tourism Working Group Meeting (TWG-52) was held on 21 November 2023. It was attended by senior and mid-level officials representing the National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, development partners and organizations including the ASEAN Japan Centre, GMS Secretariat and private sector.
The ASEAN Federation of Forwarders Associations (AFFA) met on 2 December 2023 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for their 33rd annual meeting, and discussed facilitation of goods transportation via inter-governmental cooperation in the region.
ASEAN countries have emphasized the development of logistics services, infrastructure, and trade facilitation measures, and promoting intra-bloc connectivity.
In his remarks at the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, Viet Nam Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính remarked that the country is eyeing to become a key transit hub and a crucial supply chain link for commerce between ASEAN nations and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries convened the 29th (the final) Meeting of the GMS Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC-29) in a hybrid format (with inperson in Siem Reap, Cambodia and via web-based conferencing) on 5-6 July 2022. RPTCC-29 was a landmark meeting signaling the evolution of RPTCC into the GMS Energy Transition Taskforce (ETTF).
A smart border gate will be built at the Huu Nghi (Viet Nam) – Youyi Guan (PRC) border gate by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Viet Nam’s Lang Son Province.
A new global pact for nature expected to be passed at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in 2022 should balance the needs of developing and developed countries in helping avoid ecosystem collapse.
The Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) with assistance of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) virtually convened the 49th Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Tourism Working Group (TWG-49) on 12 May 2022. The meeting was attended by representatives of the National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) of the six GMS countries, MTCO, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
This report compares the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with other free trade agreements and suggests how policy makers can promote its successful implementation.
Greater Mekong Subregion Secretariat
Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division,
Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank
Address: 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Metro Manila, Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 8632 4444 Fax: +63 2 8636 2226