On March 14, 2007, the World Bank Office Bangkok organized a workshop on “Economic Cooperation across the Mekong Sub-Region,” which proposes a framework of World Bank support to development in the GMS. This strategy focuses on four areas: Mekong water resource management, regional power trade, labor migration, and trade and transport facilitation. About 50 representatives of local and international non-governmental organizations, private corporations, Government think-tanks, and academic research centers or institutes attended the workshop, held at Nai Lert Park Hotel in Bangkok. Dr. Porametee Vimolsiri, Senior Advisor of the Office of National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), and Mr. Ian Porter, World Bank Thailand Country Director, presided over the event.
During the opening session, Dr. Porametee presented an overview of the opportunities and challenges in the GMS, progress made under existing regional cooperations, including the GMS Business Forum, and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS). He also presented a brief assessment of the World Bank strategy from Thailand’s perspectives.
After the opening session, Mr. Toru Konishi, Senior Economist, presented the draft strategy on Mekong water resource management, followed by the presentation on power trade by Mr. Zhi Liu, Thailand Country Coordinator for the Infrastructure Sector. Presentation on the trade and transport facilitation was made by Dr. Kazi Matin, World Bank Lead Economist for Thailand. Finally, Mr. Luis Benveniste, Thailand Country Coordinator for Human Development, presented an overview of World Bank strategy for labor migration.
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