Capacity Development for Regional Cooperation and Integration
ABOUT MI
Governance Structure
Mekong Institute (MI) operates under the MI Charter which came into force when it was signed by the six governments of the GMS in 2003. It states that the institute operates as an autonomous institution under the governance of the Council and Steering Committee.
The Council is the supreme decision-making body of the institute and its functions are to approve the strategic plan and budget and consider the recommendations submitted by the Steering Committee. This year, 2025, the Chairmanship is Cambodia.
CHAIRMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE OF LAO PDR
Director-General
Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Lao PDR
HONORARY ADVISORS
Secretary-General
The Thai Red Cross Society
Bangkok, Thailand
Dr. Jean-Pierre A. Verbiest
Policy Advisor,
Mekong Institute
Bangkok, Thailand
COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES
H.E. Mr. Chea Chantum
Secretary-General
General Secretariat for Population and
Development, Ministry of Planning
Cambodia
Vice Governor
The People’s Government of Yunnan Province
Yunnan Province, China
Director General
Foreign Economic Relations Department
Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations
Myanmar
Mr. Chulvat Narinthrangura
Director General
Thailand International Cooperation Agency
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Thailand
Director General
Department of Debt Management and Foreign Economic Relations
Ministry of Finance
Viet Nam
ACADEMIC REPRESENTATIVES
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D
President
Khon Kaen University
Khon Kaen, Thailand
Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee
Council Chairman
Khon Kaen University
Khon Kaen, Thailand
BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE
President Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI)
DEVELOPMENT PARTNER REPRESENTATIVES
Ms. Dana Avram
First Secretary (Development)
New Zealand Embassy
Thailand
Regional Head
Regional Cooperation and Integration
Southeast Asia Department
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Manila, Philippines
MEKONG INSTITUTE (NON-VOTING MEMBER)
Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn
Executive Director
Mekong Institute
Khon Kaen, Thailand
CHAIRMAN
Council Chairman
Khon Kaen University
Khon Kaen, Thailand
COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES
Deputy Secretary General
General Secretariat for Population and Development
Ministry of Planning
Cambodia
Permanent Representative
Permanent Mission of China to UNESCAP
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
Thailand
Deputy Director General
Department of Economic Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Vientiane, Lao PDR
Deputy Director General
Foreign Economic Relations Department
Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations
Myanmar
Deputy Director General
Thailand International Cooperation Agency
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Thailand
Head of Foreign Aid Management Division
Department of Debt Management and Foreign Economic Relations Ministry of Finance
Vietnam
ACADEMIC REPRESENTATIVES
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D
Acting President
Khon Kaen University
Khon Kaen , Thailand
Hue University:
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Linh
President
Hue University
Hue City, Viet Nam
MEKONG INSTITUTE (NON-VOTING MEMBER)
Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn
Executive Director
Mekong Institute
Khon Kaen, Thailand
Led by the Executive Director, the main duties of MI Secretariat are to organize activities geared towards realizing MI’s goals and objectives by working with other reputable GMS and international institutions, to supply technical and professional support for the Council and Steering Committee, and to provide information to the GMS member countries on all areas of HRD for GMS development and cooperation.
COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES
General Secretariat for Population and Development
Ministry of Planning
Yunnan Academy of Science and Technology Development
Economic Affairs Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Economic Relations Department (FERD)
Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations
Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Department of Debt Management and Foreign Economic Relations
Ministry of Finance