The 8^th ACMECS Summit will be held in Bangkok on 15 – 16 June 2018. The meeting started with the ACMECS CEO Forum on 15 June 2018, which brought together ACMECS leaders, development partners, financial institutions, and the private sector. The 8^th ACMECS Summit on 16 June 2018 will be hosted by H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.), Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, and attended by leaders of ACMECS countries namely, H.E. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, H.E. Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, H.E. U Win Myint, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, as well as Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi, the ASEAN Secretary-General.

          The theme of the 8^th ACMECS Summit is “Towards an Integrated and Connected Mekong Community”, which demonstrates the leaders’ political will to create multi-dimensional economic connectivity within ACMECS to facilitate ease of travel, logistics, trade and cross-border transactions. This will lead to the development of transportation, digital and energy connectivity, harmonization of trade regulations to facilitate goods and movement of labour in the region, as well as the application of technology to accommodate trade and finance in the digital age, such as Fintech and e-commerce. To move forward, promoting human resource development and sustainable development in accordance with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must be taken into account and ensure to leave no one behind.

          The theme of the 8^th ACMECS Summit is “Towards an Integrated and Connected Mekong Community”, which demonstrates the leaders’ political will to create multi-dimensional economic connectivity within ACMECS to facilitate ease of travel, logistics, trade and cross-border transactions. This will lead to the development of transportation, digital and energy connectivity, harmonization of trade regulations to facilitate goods and movement of labour in the region, as well as the application of technology to accommodate trade and finance in the digital age, such as Fintech and e-commerce. To move forward, promoting human resource development and sustainable development in accordance with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must be taken into account and ensure to leave no one behind.

          During this summit, Thailand will propose the 5-Year Master Plan for the leaders’ endorsement. It is Thailand’s initiative and will be the first Master Plan of ACMECS with an aim to maximize its potential to cope with the changing world. ACMECS can become an integrated economy through improved connectivity; the sub-region can be an important connecting point between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The possible setting up of an ACMECS Fund would ensure sustainable funding for future projects. Moreover, a new practice such as inviting representatives from other development partners outside of AcMECs and international financial institutions, China, South Korea, Japan, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and Asia Development Bank (ADB) to the opening ceremony.

          ACMECS or the Ayeyawady- Chao Phraya- Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy was initiated by Thailand in 2003. Seven summits have already been held. ACMECS aims to create prosperity along the borders, and to create jobs, income, and reduce inequality in the sub-region. ACMECS has a total population of over 230 million people or accounting for about one-third of the ASEAN population. It has an annual GDP growth of 6-8 percent and is considered as a sub-region with high economic potential.

          The opening ceremony of the 8^th ACMECS Summit will be broadcast live via NBT tomorrow, both in Thai and English, as well as through Facebook live of NBT World in English. For more information on this year’s ACMECS, please logon to: www.acmecs2018.org

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