Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 30, 2025 — Countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) are turning to emerging sectors—particularly the circular, care, and creative economies—as key pillars for driving regional growth, amid mounting global uncertainty and the growing demand for more inclusive and sustainable development.
At the opening of Mekong Forum 2025 today in Phnom Penh, senior officials, business leaders, and development partners emphasized the need for bold shifts in economic strategy to address intensifying challenges such as climate change, demographic transitions, and disrupted global supply chains.
Organized by the Mekong Institute (MI) under the theme “Harnessing Inclusive and Resilient GMS Through New Economies,” the forum showcases how GMS countries—Cambodia, China (Yunnan and Guangxi), Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam—are reimagining development models to reflect values of resilience, innovation, and cross-border cooperation.
“The region must leverage its strengths while adapting to new realities,” said MI Executive Director Suriyan Vichitlekarn in his opening remarks. “That means embracing economic models that prioritize people and the planet.”
From Traditional Growth to New Economies
Once known for its connectivity and export-driven growth, the GMS is now navigating a shifting development landscape. With traditional drivers under pressure, the focus is turning to sectors that deliver both economic opportunity and social value:
- The circular economy, as part of the broader green economy agenda, seeks to reduce waste and emissions while improving resource efficiency.
- The care economy is emerging as a critical sector amid aging populations and urbanization, demanding stronger public and private investment.
- The creative economy, rooted in the region’s rich cultural assets, is seen as a catalyst for innovation, jobs, and identity.
While distinct, these sectors are being positioned as interconnected pathways to a more inclusive, resilient, and future-ready economy. The forum also spotlights Society 5.0—a vision introduced by Japan that integrates digital and physical systems to place human wellbeing at the center of progress.
High-Level Participation and Milestone Launches
Attended by over 280 participants from across the GMS and beyond, the forum was officially opened by H.E. Dr. Sok Siphana, Senior Minister in charge of Special Missions and Chairman of the Trade Policy Advisory Board (TPAB), Cambodia, who underscored the urgency of aligning economic strategy with long-term resilience goals.
A major highlight was the launch of the Mekong Children’s Heart Care Project, a new regional initiative aimed at improving access to life-saving health services for children with congenital heart conditions.
At the Mekong Forum exhibit, more than 40 organizations and projects showcased scalable initiatives and breakthrough ideas that support the development of circular, care, and creative economies.
Forum Aims to Catalyze Policy and Partnerships
More than just a platform for dialogue, the Mekong Forum 2025 aims to deliver tangible outcomes. These include clear policy recommendations, the identification of project ideas and investment opportunities, the forging of new regional and multi-stakeholder partnerships, and capacity-building to support the GMS’s transition toward new economic models.
The forum continues through July 31 with keynote addresses, exhibitions, and working sessions that will help shape a forward-looking development agenda for the subregion.
