(Mekong Institute August 29, 2016) – Mekong Institute will organize the 4th Mekong Forum on August 29, 2016 at Pullman Hotel Khon Kaen, Thailand. Mekong Forum 2016 will bring together development practitioners, senior policy makers, business and civic leaders, and academics involved in promoting the development of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). Participants will share success stories and present innovative ideas on the roles of development partners, the changing needs of the GMS countries, and ways to enhance regional integration and promote more equitable and inclusive growth in the GMS.
The theme of this year’s Mekong Forum is “Sharing Responsibility for Common Prosperity”. With Rt. Hon. James Bolger, 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand and Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Former Minister of Energy and Minister of Commerce of Thailand as the keynote speakers. Years of implementing the Paris Declaration resulted in significant progress in improving aid effectiveness and taught some valuable lessons. Notably, developing countries have stepped up their roles and become vital sources of trade, investment, knowledge, and development cooperation. Furthermore, non-government organizations (NGOs), global programs, private funds and businesses are more actively engaging in development and contributing innovative ideas and approaches.
Later on, in 2011, a consensus has emerged among development partners on the need to shift focus from aid effectiveness to effective development cooperation, with particular emphasis on securing cooperation across governments. Development partners are urged to reconsider how - and for what purpose - aid is invested, ensuring that it is in accordance with commitments towards human rights, decent work, gender equality, environmental sustainability and disability.
The Mekong Forum 2016, therefore, will serve to further support this agreement by fostering dialogue among development partners and agencies on approaches to enhance effective development cooperation as a means to achieve development targets. These include reducing poverty and inequality, generating inclusive growth, improving capacity development, and exceeding the sustainable development goals in the GMS.
There is a direct need to talk about what has already been done, and identify ways on how both traditional and emerging development partners can further work together with the GMS countries to attain sustainable progress within the region. In response, the Mekong Institute, with its Mekong Forum initiative, positions itself at the forefront of this goal by acting both as a facilitator and a catalyst in discussing the invaluable role and contribution of development partners in sharing lessons learned, identifying future priority needs, and suggesting ways to advance effective development cooperation in the GMS for the years to come.
Background Information about Mekong Forum:
Initiated by Mekong Institute, an inter-governmental organization in the GMS, the Mekong Forum:
• Brings together opinion leaders to discuss the most pressing issues facing the GMS;
• Is known for its July biennial gathering in Khon Kaen, a city in the northeast of Thailand;
• Is an integrated platform engaging business, academic and other leaders in collaborative efforts to shape the development agenda in the GMS; and
• Is now being used by leaders, international organizations and scholars as a neutral platform to exchange ideas and build networks across the GMS.
Mekong Institute has successfully organized three Mekong Forums in the past. Numerous topics have been discussed, such as narrowing development gaps between the lesser developed ASEAN countries and other ASEAN states, enhancing regional cooperation and integration, and modernizing the GMS. To keep up with the pace of the fast-growing economies of the GMS countries, MI has made the Mekong Forum an annual event from a biennial event. This will further strengthen the connectivity of the GMS and the development partner community.
For more information, please contact us:
Website : www.mekongforum.org
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