On 29 – 30 January 2015, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the United States Department of State co-hosted the 7th Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Regional Working Group (RWG) Meeting at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel, Bangkok. Nearly 160 participants from six LMI countries, including Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam and the United States of America, as well as representatives from the Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM), such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Republic of Korea, Australia, the European Union (EU) and ASEAN Secretariat attended the event.

In his Opening Remarks, Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi, Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, reiterated the importance of the continued efforts of both the LMI and FLM members in working together to enhance closer cooperation among all stakeholders in the Mekong region. Director-General Chutintorn also informed the meeting of the progress done by Thailand in key areas of LMI cooperation, including public health, connectivity, education, environment and water, agriculture and food security, and energy security. The issue of science, technology and innovation (STI) was also mentioned. It is in line with Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Plan (2012-2016), which aims to utilize STI as a mean to restructure the economy towards sustainability, quality growth and overcoming the middle income trap.

Discussion also focused on the cross-cutting issues of Water, Energy and Food Security nexus challenges, as well as women’s empowerment and the promotion of gender equality, two new challenges which were high on the agenda of the LMI. Outcomes of the meeting will be incorporated into the drafting LMI Plan of Action 2015-2020.

This meeting was also the first time for the Eminent and Expert Persons Group (EEPG) to meet and discuss on recommendations for achieving sustainability in the region. Two EEPs from Thailand are Dr. Suthad Setboonsarng, a member of the National Reform Council (NRC), Former Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN Secretariat and Thailand Trade Representative, and Associate Professor Dr. Ruth Banomyong, Department of International Business, Logistics and Transport Management, Thammasat University.

The Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) was inaugurated in 2009. Its main objective is to reduce the development gap between the old and the new ASEAN members and to support the realisation of the ASEAN Community. In this forum, Thailand has played an important role as a development partner together with the United States. A series of projects on education, public
health, energy and human resources development have been implemented.