Deputy PM Mr Saleumxay Kommasith at the 12th Mekong Ganga Cooperation meeting in Bangkok.

Laos benefits from Mekong-Ganga cooperation

Laos has benefitted from US$500,000 worth of subsidies under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) scheme, with 11 programmes implemented in the country.
The development plans linked to poverty reduction efforts were carried out under the 2019-2022 MGC action programme, according to Laos’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The MGC is a collaboration between India and countries along Mekong River including Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, and covers the fields of tourism, culture, education and transportation.
The MGC’s first ministerial meeting was held in Vientiane on November 10, 2000.
The 12th MGC meeting took place 23 years later in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sunday, co-chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, and Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith.
The ministers concluded that the programmes had helped to boost socio-economic development in the Mekong region.
They agreed to strengthen their cooperation to continue revitalisation of the economy in this area and, to that end, plan to work in other sectors including health, information, technology, SMEs and agriculture.
Dr Jaishankar voiced support for implementation of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway project, saying there was a mutual agreement to facilitate road trade between India and its partners.
Another project, which is the creation of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation Business Council, will also take forward economic cooperation by developing exchanges in agriculture, science and water resource management.
Leaders finally discussed new areas of cooperation through Quick Impact Projects, which will focus on culture and tourism by deepening museum-based cooperation.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update July 18, 2023)