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What’s New in the Greater Mekong Subregion
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 GMS e-Newsletter
   What’s New in the Greater Mekong Subregion
  February 2022

$180 Million ADB Loan to Improve Urban Services in Cambodia

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $180 million loan to help three cities in Cambodia improve urban infrastructure and boost economic competitiveness. The Livable Cities Investment Project will help more than 140,000 residents in Bavet, Kampot, and Poipet access better wastewater and solid waste management services. It will help the cities reduce flooding by upgrading their urban stormwater and drainage systems. The project also aims to strengthen the capacity of municipal governments to deliver urban services. ADB’s country partnership strategy for Cambodia 2019–2023 supports economic growth along the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Southern Economic Corridor, where Bavet, Kampot, and Poipet are located. Bavet and Popet are entry points to Viet Nam and Thailand, and the port city Kampot has become a tourism destination. Read more. 

 
GMS EVENTS
Multi-sector
Development Partners’ Meeting 
The Development Partners’ Meeting was held via videoconference on 9 December 2021. It exchanged views on potential support for three GMS documents: GMS Economic Cooperation Program Strategic Framework 2030 (GMS-2030), GMS COVID-19 Response and Recovery Plan 2021-2023 (COVID-19 Plan), and the Regional Investment Framework. The meeting also discussed and how to engage more actively in the GMS Program.

12th Economic Corridors’ Forum
The GMS 12th Economic Corridors Forum (ECF-12) was held via videoconference on 22 November 2021 with the theme “Enhancing Connectivity, Competitiveness, and Community Along the GMS Economic Corridors: Vital Means Toward Economic Recovery and Sustained Growth.” The ECF-12 emphasized the 3 Cs of the GMS Program–”Community, Connectivity, and Competitiveness,” with sessions organized under these themes.

Health
GMS Working Group on Health Cooperation 4th Annual Meeting
The 4th GMS Health Sector Working Group Meeting was held on 8 December 2021 with the theme “Solidarity through Information Exchange for COVID-19 Immunization in the GMS.” The meeting presented experiences on COVID-19 vaccination and made recommendations for effective immunization in 2022.

Environment The GMS Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Program (CCESP) Inception Workshop was held online on 23–24 September 2021. The event formally marked the start of the implementation of ADB's TA 9915 or the GMS CCESP. The workshop focused primarily on the assessments and plans presented in the draft Inception Report and the expected results under each of the six themes of CCESP.

Tourism
48th Meeting of the GMS Tourism Working Group
The 48th Meeting of the GMS Tourism Working Group held on 17 September 2021 discussed the COVID-19 and tourism situation of GMS countries, and discussed and agreed on the final draft of the Mekong Tourism Recovery Communications Plan 2021–2023. The meeting also discussed the Southeast Asia Sustainable Tourism Facility proposed regional technical assistance.

Energy
28th Meeting of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee
The 28th Meeting of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee was held on 26ꟷ27 August 2021 via web-based conferencing. The meeting discussed the summary of key results of the GMS study on harmonization of technical performance standards and grid codes and regulatory regime, conducted under the ADB technical assistance on Harmonizing GMS Power Systems to Facilitate Regional Power Trade.

 
GMS CALENDAR

5th Meeting of the Urban Development Working Group
23 February 2022: Video Conference 

GMS Group Consultation Meeting on GMS Gender Strategy
26 January 2022: Video Conference  

Final GMS Group Consultation Meeting on Scoping Study “Enhancing Collaboration in Trade and Investment under the GMS Program”
21 January 2022: Video Conference 

Consultation Meeting of the GMS Working Group on Agriculture: TA 9916 Demonstrations
19 January 2022: Video Conference 

Download: GMS Program Calendar of Events

 
GMS IN THE NEWS

People's Republic of China: Three Cities of Guangxi Realizing Their Potential in Regional Networks

The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is among the country’s less-developed provinces. Yet it holds massive potential for growth due to its relationship with two major regional economic initiatives—the GMS Economic Cooperation Program and the PRC-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Area. Read more. 
Transport Energy   
Agriculture

GMS Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Program and GMS Countries Reach Agreement in Principle for First 6 Demonstration Sites 

Young People are Encouraged to More Actively Engage in GMS Agri-food Value Chains 

ADB Encourages GMS Countries to Propose Investment Projects to Capitalize on the Implementation of the GMS Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Program 

Modern GMS Agri-food Sectors Need Further Works on Traceability and Digital Technology 


Environment

What Will It Take for Southeast Asia to Build Back Better from COVID-19? 


Health
Tourism

Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Recovery Communications Plan 

Viet Nam Eyes Development of Rural Tourism Powered by Digital Technology


Urban Development 

ADB-UNIDO Workshop Emphasizes Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in Cambodia


Multi-sector

ADB Support for Subregional Programs Emphasized at ASEAN High-level Forum on Subregional Cooperation 

 

 
PUBLICATIONS

COVID-19 Food Security Response and Recovery Actions in the GMS 

Big Data for Better Tourism Policy, Management, and Sustainable Recovery from COVID-19 

Financing the Ocean Back to Health in Southeast Asia: Approaches for Mainstreaming Blue Finance 

GMS Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Program Newsletter

GMS Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Program Newsletter 

 
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GMS e-Newsletter provides updates on activities and major developments in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

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GMS Secretariat
Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank
gms@adb.org; www.greatermekong.org         






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