TA-10466-REG: Strengthening Regional Health Cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion - Phase 2
Inception Meeting, 2 April 2025, ADB HQ, Manila
Photo shows the participants of this year's regional training program together with the training team. Photo credit: ADB.
Thirty-nine government officials and specialists joined this year’s Regional Training in Project Management organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Bangkok from 5 to 9 May. The training program is designed to support the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) in project planning and implementation. It fosters a results-based project management approach that aligns projects to sector strategies.
The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) is characterized by rapid economic growth, rich biodiversity, and a strong reliance on agriculture for livelihoods. Agriculture remains the backbone of the GMS economies, employing a large portion of the population and contributing substantially to the national Gross Domestic Product especially in less industrialized countries.
The fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge spanning the Mekong River, connecting Borikhamxay province in Lao PDR with Bueng Kan province in Thailand, is now 96% complete. Its official opening is being planned for May 2025, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The new bridge will facilitate easier travel and trade between the two countries, as well as strengthen connections within the Greater Mekong Subregion, particularly benefiting businesses engaged in trade between Thailand and Viet Nam.
Regional health cooperation is a priority for the countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and an integral part of the GMS Economic Cooperation Program Strategic Framework 2030. It utilizes the subregion's expertise in health leadership, human resource capabilities, and programmatic experience to tackle their shared health issues and cross-border challenges
Since its inception in 2006, the GMS Environment Program has been integral in supporting the GMS countries in advancing environmental protection and sustainable development through policy development, strategic planning, and climate-related investments. With three phases spanning 18 years, the program has continuously evolved, adjusting to the dynamic landscape of environmental priorities of the GMS countries. Now, as we’re nearing the close of the current Phase III of the program, it’s time to look beyond 2025 into the next chapter.
Harmonize traceability standards and adopt shared digital technologies to boost interoperability in the food supply chain.
This publication outlines how the One Health approach can be stepped up in the Greater Mekong Subregion to address climate change, boost food security, and tackle disease resistance to help optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.
Harmonizing sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures among Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries can help lower trade barriers and signal product quality to consumers, this brief shows.
The study tour and masterclass provided the participants with in-depth understanding and practical knowledge of (i) key energy transition tasks and tools, (ii) technologies and applications to be utilized for renewable energy integration and expansion, (iii) policy frameworks to support energy transition, and (iv) power market development to support energy transition including interstate trades.
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