MI DIRECTOR REFLECTS ON LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES AND NETWORK BUILDING IN INWENT REGIONAL INTEGRATION CONFERENCE

Dr. Suchat Katima, MI Director, attended the 1st Interdisciplinary Alumni Conference in Southeast Asia in Hanoi, Vietnam, as one of the keynote speakers. Entitled Regional Integration in Southeast Asia: Leadership Challenges and Network Building, the interdisciplinary dialogue forum was organized by InWEnt from 1-2 July, 2010 to improve the networking of Southeast Asian specialists and executives. 

Addressing an audience of more than 200 at the event, Dr. Suchat stated that regional social and economic integration has gone too far for the return of national state and independent economy. Although integration is positive for Asian economies as it speeds up their development, he cautioned the potential widening of the divide between rich and poor, and reiterated that such disparity must be mitigated by regional measures. 

In his speech, Dr. Suchat cited a number of demand- and supply-side factors that are shaping the GMS integration and interaction. He observed that GMS countries are complementing each other in term of markets, resources and competitive advantages, and governments in the region are showing strong political will to continue reforms and further open up the markets beyond the GMS. 

Dr. Suchat acknowledged that networking, diversity, and virtual team are vital to our true and lasting regional integration. The new generation must demonstrate abilities in both subject expertise and cross-cutting competencies, such as facilitation and innovation. He encouraged organizations in the GMS to embrace new approach to capacity building, and implant convergence of skills and competencies needed for a globally competitive workforce.

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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.