Hanoi, Viet Nam – March 31, 2026 — The Mekong Institute (MI) successfully convened an Information Sharing Session on the Mekong–Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF) in Hanoi, equipping stakeholders with practical knowledge and guidance to prepare strong, competitive proposals for the upcoming 10th Call for Proposals.
The session brought together 95 participants—29 attending in person and 66 joining online—from government agencies, development organizations, and academic institutions. The strong participation reflects growing interest in the MKCF as a platform for advancing regional cooperation and delivering impactful, results-oriented development initiatives across the Mekong subregion.
Opening the session, Ms. Nguyen Bich Thuy, Deputy Director General of the Department of Economic Diplomacy at Viet Nam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcomed participants and highlighted the value of the MKCF in fostering practical and sustainable cooperation between Mekong countries and the Republic of Korea. She underscored the importance of designing projects that generate tangible outcomes at both local and regional levels, while reflecting core principles of innovation, sustainability, and partnership.
A central component of the session was a comprehensive presentation by Mr. Madhurjya K. Dutta, Director of MKCF, who outlined the Fund’s objectives, priority sectors, and strategic role in supporting regional development. He also provided detailed, step-by-step guidance on the Expression of Interest (EoI) process, including key requirements, evaluation criteria, and practical considerations for prospective applicants. This enabled participants to better align their project ideas with regional priorities and enhance the quality, feasibility, and impact of their proposals.
Participants engaged actively in discussions and the Q&A session, raising questions on proposal design, partnership arrangements, and implementation modalities. The strong level of interaction highlighted a clear demand for collaborative, multi-country initiatives that address shared challenges and deliver scalable solutions across the Mekong region.
By convening this session, MI continues to play a key role in strengthening proposal readiness, facilitating partnerships, and supporting informed participation in the MKCF. The session forms part of MI’s broader regional outreach efforts to ensure that stakeholders are well-prepared to access funding opportunities and contribute to high-quality, impactful projects.
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For further information, please contact:
Mekong Institute
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