ENERGY COOPERATION IN THE GMS

Trade and Investment Facilitation

Mekong Institute (MI) conducted a Seminar on Energy Cooperation in the GMS at Khon Kaen, Thailand on March 17, 2016. The seminar aimed to be a platform for participants to share success stories among the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) countries and lessons learned on energy cooperation in the GMS and identify appropriate measures to tackle energy mismatch among the countries. The seminar is part of the energy colloquium 2015 project, supported by the Energy Policy Planning Office (EPPO), Ministry of Energy of Thailand. There were over 70 participants representing both the private and public sector from all over the GMS. 

Welcome remarks were given by MI Executive Director, Dr. Watcharas Leelawath and the opening remarks were given by Dr. Twarath Sutabutr, Director General of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), Ministry of Energy of Thailand. The keynote speaker of the event was none other than the former Minister of Energy and Minister of Commerce of Thailand and MI’s Steering Committee Chairman, Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee. 

Dr. Narongchai explained the importance of energy cooperation by breaking it down into four parts: GMS, GMS economic cooperation, energy, and energy cooperation. First, he gave a brief background of how the GMS came to be, before explaining that even various historic conflicts in the GMS due to political rivalries never stopped its member countries from trying to cooperate with one another. 

As for the topic on energy, he emphasized that fuel and electric power are independent from one another but not mutually exclusive. Availability of energy in each country varies but none of them is self-sufficient. This led to his last topic, energy cooperation. The lack of self-sufficiency explains why energy cooperation is a top priority on the agenda in the GMS strategic framework. Energy must ensure availability, affordability, and acceptability. 

Dr. Narongchai’s remarks showed that sources of energy in the GMS are diversified and through cooperation each country can complement each other by considering energy cooperation to benefit all of GMS. 

Later in the seminar, the focus was on opportunities, challenges, and recommendations for energy cooperation in the GMS. There were two representatives from the private sector and one from the public sector. The session was moderated by Dr. Watcharas Leelawath, who also shared and expounded on the role of MI as an organization that aims to facilitate energy cooperation with the help of various development partners.

Related News

Scroll to Top

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.