The new MI Strategic Plan which sets out the strategic goals and key strategies for 2011-2015 was approved in the Council meeting chaired by Mr. Gu Zhaoxi, Vice-Governor of Yunnan Province and MI Council Chairman, in Kunming City on 14 July. 

Council members commended the new strategic plan which encompasses a broad human resources development framework. Under the new 5-year plan, MI will strive to become a human resources and policy development center for a more integrated, prosperous and harmonious sub-region, by building a critical mass of competent HRD practitioners, and developing policies and best practices that promote GMS development and cooperation. 

Focusing on three thematic areas, namely trade and investment, transnational rural development and human migration, MI will strengthen local partnership and promote cross-country network in order to achieve the new goals. While promoting GMS ownership in MI programs, it will also enhance its network and partnership with private sector and various development partners and national agencies. Concurrently, MI will build up its internal capacity as facilitation house for regional integration in preparation of the challenges ahead. 

Council members deliberated ardently over the draft plan during the meeting. MI was suggested to take heed of ASEAN and other regional initiatives, and include emerging issues such as climate change and disaster risk reduction under the transnational rural development theme. Moreover, the Secretariat was advised to adopt a gradualist approach, and devise strategy to close the resource and capacity gaps. 

Member countries and development partners also pledged commitment and support to MIs mission in the meeting. On behalf of the Chinese government, Mr. Gu announced a 200,000 USD contribution to MI in 2010, and the Thailand government continued to shore up MI with a 10 million baht grant. Member countries were urged to sustain the momentum and step up their support, so that MI can become a GMS-owned financially secured institution. 

The strategic plan was earlier discussed in the Steering Committee Meeting held on 12 July. The final plan will be translated into a 3-year business plan and submitted for approval in the next Council meeting in December 2010. 

In a ceremony following the Council meeting, a new lease agreement between MI and Khon Kaen University was signed by Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, MI Steering Committee Chairman, and Prof. Sumon Sakolchai, President of Khon Kaen University. The ceremony signified the completion of MIs transformation process into an Inter-governmental Organization, and was witnessed by Mr. Gu and H.E. Bede Corry, Ambassador of New Zealand to Thailand.