Siem Reap, Cambodia, February 13-14, 2025 – The Mekong Institute (MI), in partnership with the General Department for International Trade of Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC), successfully hosted a two-day Socialisation Workshop on the Implementation Plan for the Framework for Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (CLMV) Development. This event aimed to enhance awareness and strengthen the capacity of CLMV officials in executing this critical plan. Approximately 50 representatives from CLMV countries, Timor-Leste, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) attended. These participants were government officials from relevant line ministries and agencies with expertise in ASEAN integration, CLMV development, and regional project execution.
In her welcoming remarks, Ms. Sumitra Jayaseelan, Assistant Director/Head of Initiative for ASEAN Integration & Narrowing Development Gap (IAI & NDG) Division at ASEAN Secretariat, highlighted that implementing this plan aligns with both ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action for 2021-2025 contributing to an eight-year strategy (2023-2030) and emphasizes IAI efforts to close development gaps among member states through Work Plan IV. This initiative supports ASEAN’s mission to alleviate poverty while promoting sustainable development as part of regional integration.
Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of Trade and Investment Facilitation Department at MI, emphasized that this workshop marks a significant milestone in project activities by underscoring our commitment to advancing collaborative implementation across each country. He noted that by sharing insights collectively through such events we can overcome challenges more effectively while fostering sustainable regional development.
H.E. Ambassador Park Jung-Wook, the ROK Ambassador to Cambodia, aligned his remarks with workshop objectives by emphasizing how this implementation plan promotes inclusive growth within regional cooperation frameworks. The Ambassador further articulated that this gathering would contribute significantly towards ensuring smooth execution of these plans.
During his opening address, H.E. Tith Rithipol, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), emphasized that this socialization workshop was both timely and aligned with commitments made by CLMV leaders. He recalled recent developments from last year’s summit, where leaders endorsed these plans and tasked economic ministers and senior officials to coordinate closely with dialogue partners like the ASEAN Secretariat and relevant ministries/agencies. This coordination ensures effective implementation timelines are met as they move forward into action phases outlined previously during international summits, including Kunming, China. There, they agreed to advance together under a shared vision now being implemented today.
