Opportunities and Challenges of Mekong Sub-Regional Integration: Focus on Cambodia and Lao PDR
6 October, 2005, EIAS, Brussels

Speaker: Mr. Ian C. Porter, Country Director, South East Asia, East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank
Chair: Dr Sebastian Bersick, Research Fellow, European Institute for Asian Studies, Brussels

Would you like to attend this meeting?

Letter of Invitation (pdf)

Opportunities and Challenges of Mekong Sub-Regional Integration: Focus on Cambodia and Lao PDR
6 October, 2005, EIAS, Brussels

Speaker: Mr. Ian C. Porter, Country Director, South East Asia, East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank
Chair: Dr Sebastian Bersick, Research Fellow, European Institute for Asian Studies, Brussels

The countries of the Mekong Sub-Region have witnessed strong recent growth performances - but significant diversities remain. Social indicators vary among the countries and in some instances growth has not yielded commensurate social improvements. Poverty reduction has also been uneven.

While there are opportunities presented by the diversity among the countries, strong growth performance, expanded and more open trade, and natural resource endowments, there are significant challenges: How to overcome knowledge and income gaps? How to ensure that benefits are shared equally among countries? How to manage the rich natural resources of the region so that they can provide long term benefits to the millions of people who depend on them for their livelihoods?

This briefing will explore the opportunities and challenges of assisting the Mekong Sub-Regional countries in realizing stronger economic growth and a more integrated future. The European Institute for Asian Studies has the pleasure to welcome Mr. Ian Porter, World Bank Director for the South East Asia, to give an overview of the World Bank’s initiatives in supporting regional integration efforts in the Mekong Sub-Region, in particular, how to assist the lower income countries of the sub-region benefit from greater integration and further reduce poverty.

Furthermore, the presentation will discuss the current initiatives and stakeholders supporting regional integration efforts, to be followed by discussion.

Would you like to attend the meeting?

Download the Letter of Invitation (pdf)