SBR- Content.pmd - INBO

State of the Basin Report - 2003In its first decade, the GMS Programmepromoted economic cooperation ineight sectors: transportation, energy,telecommunications, human resourcedevelopment, tourism, environment, tradeand investment. In 2002, agriculture andwater resources management were added asadditional sectors.At the end of 2002, GMS investment totalledabout $2,000 million. A few examples ofADB/GMS projects include a network ofroads now under construction that will linkall six GMS countries with each other andwith seaports. When completed, theseLack of transportation infrastructure in the LMB impedeseconomic developmenthighways will be promoted as “economic corridors” – geographic areas where infrastructureimprovements are linked with production, trade and other development opportunities. GMSagreements are also reducing non-physical barriers such as customs regulations that impede theflow of goods, vehicles and people. In the energy sector, the GMS programme is encouragingsubregional cooperation in developing fossil fuel and hydropower projects as well as a subregionalpower network that will facilitate sales of electric power from one GSM country to another. In thetelecommunications sector, projects include upgrading infrastructure, creating common standards,and adjusting regulations, policies, and tariffs to facilitate communications. Tourism is anotherimportant area of regional cooperation, as are initiatives to promote trade and investment and tosustain the environment.The ADB/GMS programme is an important contributor to regional cooperation not only because ofthe resources the programme can mobilise to foster and strengthen cooperation, but also because itpromotes cooperation among all six Mekong Basin countries.Recognising the importance of private sector involvement in strengthening economic linkages inthe basin, ESCAP, in partnership with ADB/GMS, established the GMS Business Forum. 8 Thisindependent, non-governmental body brings together representatives from industry and nationalchambers of commerce in all six Mekong countries and develops local private sector capacity.Chambers of commerce from developed countries outsidethe region have been encouraged to join as well so thatthe Forum articulates private sector perspectives fromboth inside and outside the GMS sub-region. ESCAPand ADB/GMS have also collaborated in establishingthe Mekong Tourism Forum, which brings the sixMekong countries together to plan ongoing tourisminitiatives, including an annual exhibition andconference. 9Tourism is an areawith strong potentialfor regional cooperation288