DEVELOPING DEPENDENCY SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES IN THE GREATER MEKONG SUB-REGION: A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE

This report looks at the role of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in facilitating both regional integration and local development in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). The ADB defines an SEZ as a specific geographic region with economic laws that are more liberal than a country’s typical economic laws (ADB Trade Facilitation Report 2009, 132). Drawing from primary research undertaken in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, this report unpacks the constraints on the SEZ Model as a driver of those dual objectives in the region.

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.