The 3rd Mekong-Korea International Water Forum, held from March 24 to 25 in Daejeon, South Korea, brought together key stakeholders from the Mekong region and international development partners to address critical water challenges and strengthen cooperation for sustainable water management. This annual forum serves as a vital platform for Mekong countries and multinational development organizations to exchange innovative solutions and foster regional collaboration for the sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin.

On Day 1, hosted by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Environment and K-Water, discussions centered on development finance, cutting-edge technologies, and integrated water resource management— all essential for ensuring water security in the Mekong region. Government officials, water experts, and international partners shared insights on tackling key challenges through policy coordination and innovation.

Mekong Institute (MI) played a crucial role on Day 2, particularly during the International Cooperation Fund Session, organized by the Korea-Mekong Water Center (KOMEC). Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of the Mekong-ROK Cooperation Fund (MKCF) at MI, delivered an opening remark and a key presentation, providing an in-depth overview of MKCF’s contributions to sustainable development in the Mekong region. His presentation highlighted MKCF’s impact in funding practical, results-driven projects that align with regional priorities.

Following this session, MI led the MKCF Milestone Event, a key highlight of the forum. Mr. Dutta outlined the fund’s future direction, emphasizing its role in supporting field-tested projects that enhance regional coordination and data-driven decision-making. He stressed the importance of sustainable, measurable outcomes in addressing the Mekong River Basin’s pressing water management challenges. Through MI’s leadership, the MKCF continues to fund innovative solutions that promote long-term cooperation between Korea and the Mekong region. 

By championing knowledge exchange, strategic funding, and collaborative action, MI, through the MKCF, reaffirms its commitment to advancing sustainable development and strengthening regional cooperation in the Mekong Basin.

Bangkok, 14 March 2025 – Key stakeholders from across the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) have outlined strategic recommendations to address critical regional challenges during a consultation workshop organized by the Mekong Institute (MI) with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). Discussions were built upon the initial findings of MI’s Study on Strategic Directions in Addressing Global Issues Impacting the GMS funded by FCDO.

Bringing together 46 representatives from government agencies, NGOs, think tanks, and international organizations including foreign missions and UN agencies, the workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss key challenges, validate research findings, and develop key recommendations for collaborative action.

Mr. David Thomas, Chargé d’Affaires of the British Embassy in Bangkok, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting a resilient and sustainable Mekong. He emphasized the role of green transition and increased connectivity through trade, infrastructure, and digital transformation as key drivers of regional stability and prosperity. He also expressed support to MI as it embarks on its new Strategic Plan, noting that the outcomes of the regional workshop could help inform its direction.

Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, MI’s Executive Director, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of fostering regional collaboration for inclusive growth.

The workshop featured an overview of UK initiatives in the Mekong Region by Mr. Ed MacDonagh, Deputy Head of Economic and Sustainable Development, British Embassy in Thailand. Potential areas for UK engagement and partnership development were also discussed.

Mr. Madhurjya K. Dutta, Director of the Trade & Investment Facilitation Department at MI, and Dr. Sreejith Balasubramanian, MI Consultant, led the presentation on MI’s study, which aligns with the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-United Kingdom Dialogue Partnership 2022-2026.

The discussions focused on pressing challenges such as disruptions in supply chains, uneven economic recovery, biodiversity and habitat loss, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation, persistent gender inequality, and public health risks. Participants explored the contributing factors to these challenges, measures taken to mitigate their negative impacts, and identified gaps and opportunities within existing frameworks and mechanisms for addressing these issues.

Key recommendations from the expert-moderated breakout sessions of the workshop emphasized four major areas: economic resilience, climate adaptation, digital transformation, and social development. These recommendations aim to enhance regional collaboration and promote sustainable growth in the GMS.

1. Strengthening Economic Resilience

Participants underscored the importance of strengthening the resilience of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and closing infrastructure gaps to support trade development. A key focus was on investing in digital infrastructure to improve access, reliability, and affordability of services in underserved areas, ensuring that the digital divide does not hinder growth. Upskilling and reskilling initiatives, especially for women and youth, with hands-on training and access to digital tools, were highlighted as essential for building a future-ready workforce.

2.Advancing Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability

A strong emphasis was placed on nature-based solutions such as reforestation, wetland restoration, and sustainable land management. Participants also called for regional cooperation to implement effective climate adaptation strategies. Collaborative efforts across countries were seen as critical to building the region’s capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts.

3.Promoting Digital Transformation and Technological Innovation

Recommendations for AI infrastructure investment and establishing governance frameworks to manage technological advances responsibly were central to the discussions. These frameworks should ensure data privacy, cybersecurity, and ethical AI use, while also fostering innovation in sectors crucial to regional development.

4.Enhancing Social Protection and Health Systems

Strengthening healthcare systems and expanding social protection for marginalized communities were prioritized. It was stressed that these efforts should include adopting effective social protection design tailored to country-specific contexts and leveraging digital transformation to enhance their effectiveness and access to health services.

Research Findings and Workshop Output: Tools for Shaping GMS New Strategic Direction

The research and insights generated during the workshop will serve as a reference for strategic programming of key partners and stakeholders in GMS development, outlining key focus areas to guide initiatives and collaboration. The actionable recommendations developed during the discussions will also be utilized for MI’s strategic initiatives, providing a roadmap for addressing regional challenges effectively.

By fostering collaboration and proactive policy engagement, the workshop set a clear path forward, equipping stakeholders with the tools and strategies needed to build a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable GMS. 

Khon Kaen, Thailand – February 28, 2025 – To ensure regional initiatives address regional issues and drive sustainable impact, Mekong Institute (MI), with support from the Mekong-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF), held a five-day “Regional Project Identification” training from February 24-28, 2025, in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The program convened 30 participants from government, academia, and non-governmental organizations across the five Mekong countries and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

The training enhanced participants’ capacity to identify, plan, and develop regional development projects aligned with MKCF’s seven priority sectors: (1) Culture and Tourism, (2) Human Resources Development, (3) Agriculture and Rural Development, (4) Infrastructure, (5) Information and Communication Technology (ICT), (6) Environment, and (7) Non-traditional Security Challenges. It focused on analyzing regional challenges, fostering cross-border collaboration, and formulating project concepts for sustainable growth. Additionally, it prepared potential project-implementing agencies to craft strong Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and advance full proposals for submission under the 9th MKCF Call for Proposals.

Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of MKCF and MI’s Trade and Investment Facilitation Department, opened the training by emphasizing the need for strong partnerships to address common regional challenges. He encouraged participants to actively engage and develop innovative, viable, scalable, and sustainable project concepts, anticipating strong, solution-driven proposals to take shape.

Throughout the five-day training, participants explored key global and regional challenges in MKCF’s seven priority sectors, gaining relevant insights and tools to analyze development issues and craft effective solutions. The sessions offered a deep dive into strategic project design, covering problem identification, goal setting, and the application of the Theory of Change and logical frameworks.

Participants collaborated in cross-country, sector-specific groups to explore the vital role of stakeholder engagement and partnership throughout the project life cycle — from design and implementation to the post-project phase. They learned that well-developed stakeholder engagement plans and effective coordination mechanisms are essential for ensuring successful project execution, long-term impact, and sustainability. The training also provided hands-on experience in results-based monitoring and evaluation systems, risk management strategies, and sustainability planning, providing them with a solid framework for creating scalable, high-impact regional projects. By bridging knowledge with real-world applications, the training prepared the participants to tackle complex regional development challenges with the right strategies and tools.

The training concluded with participants developing 12 regional project concepts, which they shared in a mock project pitching session. The MI team and resource persons provided constructive feedback to help refine the project designs. This hands-on exercise allowed participants to apply what they had learned to real-world project development.

In a post-training evaluation, eighty-eight 88% of participants saw the need to refine their project EOIs for the 9th MKCF Call for Proposals this year. Ninety-two percent (92%) planned to conduct stakeholder consultations to identify development needs and explore potential partnerships for joint regional projects, either for the next MKCF Call for Proposals or other funding opportunities.

Ninety percent (90%) of participants expressed their intention to apply their newly acquired knowledge, including sharing insights and tools with colleagues and partners, establishing or enhancing Monitoring & Evaluation systems, exploring joint project opportunities with fellow participants, and developing cross-border cooperation plans to address regional challenges. All participants reflected that the hands-on application deepened their understanding of regional development issues and improved their ability to design impactful projects using effective tools. The organizing team will follow up on action plans throughout 2025, ensuring progress, providing   support, and tracking outcome-level changes to measure the project impact.

The training is a part of the three-year project on “Capacity Building on Regional Project Design, Implementation, Monitoring & Evaluation of Mekong-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (PRIME)”. Launched in April 2023 and supported by the MKCF, this initiative provides support on enhancing capacities of the MKCF projects’ prospective proponents in the five Mekong countries and RoK.

In pursuit of advancing subregional cooperation, the RoK established the MKCF in 2013 following the Han River Declaration in 2011. By early 2025, the RoK had provided funding support to 61 projects, extending technical, financial, and administrative assistance to implementing agencies from Mekong countries, the RoK, and regional and international organizations. For more information on the MKCF, visit: www.mekongrok.org

Bangkok, May 13, 2024 – With support from Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund of the China, Mekong Institute (MI), in cooperation with Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) convened the Inception Meeting for the “Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Promotion for Intra-regional Trade in the Lancang-Mekong Region” project expectations, and laying the groundwork for the project’s success in promoting Thailand’s SEZ for intra-regional trade.

This hybrid event drew senior officials of the MOC of Thailand and stakeholders from Lancang-Mekong (LM) countries, including representatives from the Thailand Board of Investment, Thai Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Thai Industries, National Economic and Social Development Council, Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand, Asian Development Bank, 10 border SEZ authorities in Thailand, and representatives from Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

In the opening remarks, Ms. Chotima Lemsawasdikul, Director General of Department of Trade Negotiations of the Thai MOC expressed appreciation to the China for promoting and funding intra-regional economic cooperation in the LM region. She is optimistic that the project will further expand and deepen cooperation among SEZ in line with the current global economic trend. Thai government gives utmost importance to the idea of SEZ development and connection among Mekong-Lancang countries, leveraging tax, trade, and investment privileges, streamlined custom procedure facilities” explained Ms. Chotima.

Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of Trade and Investment Facilitation Department at MI, stresses the importance SEZ for economic transformation, technology and skills development, and policy formulation, justifying public investment. However, financial viability and streamlined administrative procedures are essential for their sustainability. He added that governments in the LM region are focusing in building SEZ to stimulate economic activity, particularly along economic corridors and border areas. 

Mr. Dutta also highlighted that this project builds on the success of previous initiatives on cross-border SEZ development and improving infrastructure and regulations. These included creating joint one stop service centers, integrated quarantine services. and SEZ database to enhance business connections and information sharing.

The meeting provide a platform for representatives of government and public agencies and stakeholders from the Mekong-Lancang countries to exchange ideas and discussed the project strategy. Special focus was on industrial development, human resource development, promotion of trade in SEZ and connectivity between SEZ of Thailand and Mekong-Lancang countries to facilitate goods flow and investment. These factors are important to attract Foreign Direct Investments into SEZ.

The input and feedback from the meeting will be used to finalize the project activity design, identity capacity building needs for and priorities of stakeholders, and develop training curricula.