Myanmar hosts 26th GMS Ministerial Conference

The 26th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Ministerial Conference (MC-26), held on 15 December 2023 at the Grand Amara Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, was chaired by Dr Kan Zaw, GMS Minister and Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations.
The MC-26 has two key events: Retreat and Plenary. At the Ministerial Retreat, two topics — the proposal for the Preparation of a GMS Innovation Strategy for Development and Strengthening the Engagement of Local Governments in the GMS Programme — were frankly exchanged by the GMS Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Heads of delegation from GMS member countries.
The Chair of the Conference, Dr Kan Zaw, Union Minister, introduced the development of the GMS Innovation Strategy. The Heads of delegation share their thoughts and provide some recommendations and suggestions on the content of such a strategy (objectives, scope, and priority areas for the GMS programme) and how this can add value to national innovation strategies.
Regarding the second topic, Strengthening the Engagement of Local Governments, Dr Kan Zaw, Union Minister and Chair, introduced the background information on the study’s initial results. Then, the Heads of delegation highlighted that it is necessary to identify the possible ways to strengthen local governments’ engagement by assessing the existing mechanism and institutions in GMS countries to be an inclusive and open platform which includes diverse stakeholders, including local governments and be more active involvement.
The Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Programme includes six countries along the Mekong River: the Kingdom of Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, which was established in 1992 and the member countries have been joining hands-in-hands by formulating the sectoral strategies; such as Agriculture, Health, Transport, Energy, Environment and Tourism, Urban Development among others.
Under the GMS Programme, the member countries used to host the summit, ministerial conference, economic corridors forums (ECFs) and senior officials’ meetings (SOMs) in alphabetical order on a rotation basis. Accordingly, Myanmar has been taking responsibility for the 26th GMS Ministerial Conference Chairmanship this year, 2023, as an alternate host.
The theme of MC-26: “Building a strong and cohesive GMS community with a shared future towards resilient economic development”, was determined since it reflects GMS countries’ strong and collective strength over three decades of cooperation and integration to achieve a resilient economy for the subregion. In the opening session, Chair Dr Kan Zaw delivered his opening remarks, and other heads of delegations made their brief statements.
At the meeting, the report of the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) Chair, which contains brief information on the recent achievements of the GMS Programme and the various 26th GMS MC deliverables for endorsement and notation by the Ministers and Heads of delegations, was presented by Dr Marlar Myo Nyunt, Director-General of Foreign Economic Relations Department and GMS National Coordinator of Myanmar on behalf of the GMS senior officials. Then, the GMS Business Council (BC) chairman also briefly reported on GMS BC’s recent activities and achievements.
In addition, the Concept for the Preparation of a GMS Innovation Strategy for Development proposed by China was endorsed. Three other initiatives, namely a Scoping Study on Enhancing Digitalization in the GMS, an ongoing Study to Enhance the Role of the Private Sector in the GMS Programme, and an ongoing Study to Strengthen Local Governments’ Engagement in the GMS Programme, were also noted by the conference participants during the conference.
Furthermore, the GMS countries formally endorsed the Joint Ministerial Statement of the 26th GMS Ministerial Conference.
After the meeting, the delegates were treated to a Gala Lunch and were entertained by Myanmar’s traditional culture and dance programmes.
The delegation from the GMS member countries visited the Maravijaya Pagoda, the gem museum in Nay Pyi Taw, the Shwedagon Pagoda, and the Botataung Pagoda in Yangon.
A total of nearly 80 participants, including three members of the Kingdom of Cambodia delegation led by Mr Nut Unvoanra, Deputy Secretary General of Cambodian Investment Board, seven members of the People’s Republic of China delegation led by Mr Lu Jin, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Finance, four members of Lao People’s Democratic Republic delegation led by Madame Phonevanh Outhavong, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, 11 members of the Kingdom of Thailand delegation led by Mr Wanchat Suwankitti, Deputy Secretary General, Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, five members of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam delegation led by Mr Tran Quoc Phuong, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, representatives of Mekong Institute led by Executive Director, representatives from the ministries concerned in Myanmar and GMS Business Council present at the 26th GMS Ministerial Conference.
Regarding this Ministerial Conference, the senior officials’ meetings hosted by Myanmar were held virtually in April, October and November.
Furthermore, it is known that Myanmar has been taking her turns as an alternate host for the key events of the GMS Programme; the 4th GMS Summit in 2011, the 4th Economic Corridors Forum in 2012, the 20th GMS Ministerial Conference in 2015, and the 10th Economic Corridors Forum in 2018 respectively.
Additionally, Myanmar has just organized the 6th GMS Urban Development Working Group Meeting in June and the 52nd GMS Tourism Working Group Meeting in November this year. — MIFER