Mekong Institute (MI) in close collaboration with General Department of Logistics (GDL), Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), Cambodia is implementing the project on “Transport and Logistics Information System in Lancang-Mekong (LM) Region” from January 2025 to December 2026, funded by Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund (LMCSF). The project aims to streamline the transport and logistics information system, enhance transport information networks, and develop integrated transport information platform with an effective information sharing mechanism among the LM countries.

To formally launch the project, MI and GDL-MPWT are organizing the Project Inception Meeting on June 12, 2025 in hybrid format at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), Cambodia. The meeting will gather multi stakeholders including government agencies, international development organizations, private sector and research institutions from the six Lancang-Mekong countries: China, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam.

The main aim of the inception meeting is to inform key stakeholders about the project with its objectives, activities, workplan, expected outcomes and implementation arrangements. The meeting also seeks potential areas of cooperation from stakeholders from the LM countries for the successful implementation of the project.

The following outcomes are expected from the inception meeting:

• Build a common understanding: ensure that all stakeholders have a clear and shared understanding of the project’s objective, planned activities, work plan, implementation arrangement and expected outcomes;
• Identify areas of cooperation: engage stakeholders to identify potential areas for coordination and collaboration and secure their commitment to support the project’s successful implementation;
• Facilitate information sharing: obtain commitments from stakeholders to provide and access relevant information necessary for project actions and decision making;
• Develop a communication network: identify key individuals from participating organizations and establish a flexible network to maintain ongoing communication and coordination among stakeholders throughout the project.

A diverse group of stakeholders from government, private sector, academic and research institutions will be participated in the inception meeting. Specifically, the invitees will be as follows:

• Government agencies: representatives from ministries such as Transport, Commerce, Agriculture, Information and Communication, Finance/Customs;
• Private sector representatives: leading firms and organizations including Freight Transport Associations, Industry Associations who are integral part of the transport and logistics ecosystem;
• Research institutions: experts engaging in the research and knowledge generation in transport and logistics information systems;
• Others relevant stakeholders: additional participants whose involvement is crucial for the project’s success.