Bangkok, Thailand, 28 November 2025 — The Mekong Institute (MI), in partnership with the GMS Business Council (GMS-BC), reaffirmed the central role of the private sector in advancing regional cooperation by co-organizing the Investment Tracks Breakout Session during the GMS Business Forum, part of the 27th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Ministerial Conference (MC-27).
Held from November 26–28, MC-27 convened ministers, senior officials, development partners, and private sector representatives to discuss priority directions for the GMS Program. Within this high-level setting, the breakout session offered a dedicated platform for over 190 government officials, business leaders, and development partners to jointly refine investment priorities under the GMS Regional Investment Framework (RIF)—the subregion’s unified implementation plan for the GMS 2030 Strategy. Beyond mobilizing financing, the RIF serves as a catalyst for policy dialogue, coordinated action, and innovative cross-border solutions.
As co-organizer, MI designed the breakout methodology, facilitated all three thematic tracks, and developed a gallery-style RIF Project Walkthrough to showcase the breadth and diversity of the 88 priority projects under the GMS RIF 2026–2028. Featuring sector snapshots, country pipelines, and investment-ready opportunities drawn from the official RIF database, the gallery gave delegates a clear, visual understanding of where high-impact, cross-border investments are emerging. Together, the session and gallery helped surface concrete recommendations, spotlight financing gaps, and enable deeper private sector engagement in advancing the GMS 2030 agenda.
Breakout Session Highlights
Across all tracks, discussions underscored a shared conclusion: the private sector has become a co-creator of the GMS development agenda, and its insights are essential to translating the RIF from commitments into tangible outcomes.
Track 1: Agriculture, Energy, and Environment
Participants identified high-potential opportunities in:
- Cold-chain logistics
- Dual-purpose solar solutions
- Renewable energy systems
- Agricultural waste-to-value technologies
They also pointed to barriers that restrict investment flows, including centralized decision-making, inconsistent standards, limited financial access, and information gaps. Recommended actions included harmonizing regional standards, expanding digital traceability systems, and deploying blended-finance mechanisms to lower investor risk.
Track 2: Health, Human Capital, ICT, and Innovation
Opportunities emerging from demographic change and digital transformation were highlighted in:
- Regional caregiver training
- Wellness and elderly tourism
- Bamboo-based livelihood solutions
- Digital and AI skills development
- Cross-border digital payment platforms
Participants emphasized the importance of mutual recognition of skills, joint certification systems, talent mobility frameworks, and stronger university–industry linkages to build a future-ready workforce aligned with GMS needs.
Track 3: Transport, Trade Facilitation, Tourism, and Urban Development
Connectivity remains the backbone of the GMS Program, with investment opportunities identified in:
- Multimodal logistics
- Corridor-based development
- Digital customs systems
- Urban infrastructure
- A potential future GMS single visa
Participants called for harmonized regulations, interoperable digital systems, corridor-level PPPs, and enhanced project preparation capacity to unlock these opportunities.
MI’s Role in Advancing RIF Dialogue and Readiness
Through its facilitation and synthesis of cross-track insights, MI helped articulate a roadmap for strengthening private sector participation in the RIF process.
Reflecting on the discussions, Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, MI Executive Director, noted:
“The private sector is no longer just an end-user of policy. It is a co-creator of the GMS sustainable development agenda. MI remains committed to supporting RIF socialization, project preparation, and capacity development so countries can move from ideas to investment-ready solutions.”
MI’s role highlighted several areas where the institute can add immediate value:
- Strengthening public–private coordination mechanisms
- Enhancing project readiness, particularly for cross-border initiatives
- Supporting RIF implementation through knowledge services, policy dialogue, and capacity building
- Creating sustained platforms for private sector engagement
GMS-BC Reflections and Commitments
During the High-Level Dialogue and in subsequent reporting to GMS Ministers, Mr. Vathit Chokwatana of GMS-BC Thailand acknowledged MI’s strong partnership and presented the consolidated outcomes of the breakout sessions. He emphasized that:
- Priority investments span the RIF’s core sectors: agriculture, energy, environment, health, tourism, transport, trade and investment facilitation, and urban development
- Key bottlenecks include project readiness challenges, regulatory inconsistencies, risk perception, and information gaps
- Future RIF directions should integrate innovation and other crosscutting priorities under the GMS 2030 Strategy
- Stronger collaboration between governments, development partners, and the private sector is essential for mobilizing finance and accelerating implementation
He reaffirmed the GMS-BC’s commitment to working closely with GMS governments and all stakeholders to translate the breakout insights into practical steps that strengthen regional investment cooperation.
Moving forward, MI will continue to serve as a regional convener and technical partner—supporting RIF socialization, enhancing project readiness, and promoting cross-border cooperation to advance the GMS vision of a sustainable, inclusive, and interconnected region.
Note: To see the full RIF Project Gallery Walk, click here.
