Hanoi (VNA) – The first-ever GMS Business Forum will be a highlight of the sixth Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit (GMS-6) to be held in Vietnam later this month, heard an international press conferencein Hanoi on March 15.
As an initiative of host Vietnam, theevent aims to strengthen dialogues between enterprises and governments and connectbusinesses in the region and the world, while encouraging resources from the private sector for the GMS Programme, said Deputy Foreign Minister Dang DinhQuy, head of the GMS-6 organising board.
Participants, who come from ministries, sectors and localities of the GMS member nations,development partners, and regional and domestic enterprises, will focus their discussions on infrastructure development, funding sources, hi-tech agriculture, and the connection between the GMS and global trade, according to TranBao Ngoc from the Foreign Ministry, head of the Content Subcommittee of the GMS-6.
Theinitiative has received active support and cooperation of international, regionaland local businesses. So far, more than 200 enterprises have registered toattend the forum, including big groups from China’s Guangxi, Yunnan, andGuangdong provinces.
It isexpected to see the participation of more than 1,000 businesses from around theworld, particularly from ASEAN, GMS member nations, and partners, namely Japan,the Republic of Korea, and Europe, Ngoc said.
The GMS cooperation waslaunched in 1992 as an initiative of the ADB. The GMS Economic Cooperation Programme isthe most complete cooperation programme that involves Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia,Thailand, Myanmar, and China’s Yunnan and Guangxi provinces.
The programmeprioritises infrastructure development, energy, telecommunications, tourism,trade-investment, human resources, and the environment.
The GMS is expected toreceive 66 billion USD in investment to strengthen regional economiccooperation in the next five years.