(VOV) – The Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Fifth Economic Corridor Forum opened in Hanoi on August 8 to review the region’s achievements during the past six years and cross-border transport and trade facilitation initiatives.
- Over US$55 million for tourism development in GMS
- GMS to invest US$50 billion in economic corridor development
Addressing the forum, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised that the development of economic corridors is a complicated and time-consuming process.
“However, we believe this is an effective tool for achieving the GMS’s 3C – enhancing ‘connectivity’, increasing ‘competitiveness’ and achieving a greater sense of ‘community’”, said Dung.
With the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and development partners, GMS programme and the development of economic corridors will help six GMS nations (Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam) overcome difficulties to fully tap their potential for equitable and sustainable development in the region.
Bindu Lohani, ADB Vice President in charge of finance and administration, suggested that the region develop infrastructure to strengthen connectivity, especially transport links in order to increase trade exchange, investment, industrial growth as well as generating jobs and incomes.
Lao Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Somchith Inthamith spoke of Laos’ great efforts to develop the regional economy and vowed to share experience with other GMS nations in improving local people’s living conditions and developing small and medium enterprises.
Chinese ambassador to Vietnam Hong Xiaoyong recommended that ADB improve its leading role at the forum, affirming that the Chinese Government and businesses have benefited tremendously from the GMS region by participating in economic corridors.
Sok Chenda Sophea, Secretary General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), stressed that these economic corridors have helped Cambodia develop its economy robustly. However, he stressed it is imperative to enhance cooperation with neighbouring nations to develop sustainably and harmoniously.
Delegates also discussed orientations to increase cooperation and integration through sharing experiences, promoting the engagement of the private sector in the region, and highlighting the role of special economic zones and industrial park complexes for the development of economic corridors in the coming time.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
