The Mekong-Japan International Conference on the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) and the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) opened in Bangkok, Thailand, on September 9.
The conference attracted representatives from five countries along the corridors, including Thailand , Vietnam , Cambodia , Laos and Myanmar , and the main provider of capital, Japan , as well as experts from international financial institutes such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the UN agency in Asia-Pacific and the Mekong River Committee.
The participants discussed problems with the two economic corridors as well as difficulties in exploiting them.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Thailand ’s Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, said that the EWEC and the SEC were instigated by the Greater Mekong Sub region (GMS) in 1998. One decade later, the EWEC has almost been completed in terms of infrastructure.
He confirmed that Thailand will serve as the main coordinator for other related projects.
Meanwhile, Japan’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Osamu Fujimura, aid that to make the best use of the two economic corridors, it is necessary to establish effective customs services and harmonise regulations and standards while stepping up investment and trade and developing local industries.
He added that Japan has pledged to continue its financial and technical support for both corridors./.
The conference attracted representatives from five countries along the corridors, including Thailand , Vietnam , Cambodia , Laos and Myanmar , and the main provider of capital, Japan , as well as experts from international financial institutes such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the UN agency in Asia-Pacific and the Mekong River Committee.
The participants discussed problems with the two economic corridors as well as difficulties in exploiting them.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Thailand ’s Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, said that the EWEC and the SEC were instigated by the Greater Mekong Sub region (GMS) in 1998. One decade later, the EWEC has almost been completed in terms of infrastructure.
He confirmed that Thailand will serve as the main coordinator for other related projects.
Meanwhile, Japan’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Osamu Fujimura, aid that to make the best use of the two economic corridors, it is necessary to establish effective customs services and harmonise regulations and standards while stepping up investment and trade and developing local industries.
He added that Japan has pledged to continue its financial and technical support for both corridors./.
