With the support of the Mekong-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF), Mekong Institute (MI) held the 1st Meeting of the Technical Working Group of the Project on “Green Freight and Logistics Development in Mekong Countries” on March 8, 2018 at Khon Kaen, Thailand. The meeting aimed to introduce the project, its objectives, expected outputs and outcomes and work plan; form the technical working group (TWG); and seek the cooperation and support of the TWG for the successful implementation of the project.

Twelve delegates from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand attended the meeting. They included representatives from government agencies, namely the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Transport, and Directorate for Roads of Vietnam (DRVN); international organizations like the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ); and the private sector including the Cambodia Freight Forwarders Association (CAMFFA), Lao International Freight Forwarders Association (LIFFA), Myanmar Highway Freight Transport Service Association, Myanmar Container Trucks Association, ASEAN Trucking Federation (ATF) and Danang Trucking Association.

Serving as co-chairs of the meeting, Mr. Minjun Cho, Second Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Bangkok, and Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of MI’s Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) Department, welcomed the delegates. In his opening remarks, Mr. Cho expressed that the Government of the Republic of Korea will be working closely with MI in implementing the project, and is hopeful that the initiative can significantly contribute to improving logistics services and enhancing connectivity in the region.

The TWG members expressed their support to the project’s objectives and outcomes as well as activities and work plan. They also offered suggestions to its implementation to ensure the achievement of the objectives within the project’s three-year timeframe. Also discussed were the project’s governance and structure, including the functions and responsibilities of the TWG to be chaired by MI and the Greater Mekong Subregion Freight Transportation Association (GMS-FRETA).

The Project on “Green Freight and Logistics Development in Mekong Countries” is being funded by the Mekong-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF). Various activities have been lined up in the project’s three-year run.

*Presentations of the TWG Meeting are available for download: Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Thailand Q Mark report, GIZ Project Introduction, Project Overview, ToR for TWG , Work Plan.