Jutamas Thongcharoen

Mekong Institute

Capacity Development for Regional Cooperation and Integration Mekong Institute (MI) deepens regional cooperation and integration through capacity development, dialogue, and advocacy for the acceleration of sustainable socioeconomic development and poverty alleviation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Founded and represented by Cambodia, P.R. China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, MI's strategies are aligned with the core tenets of the GMS Cooperation Program Strategic Framework 2030, ASEAN Economic Community, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. MI supports these frameworks through the implementation of projects across the areas of Agricultural Development and Commercialization, Trade and Investment Facilitation, and Sustainable Energy and Environment, while addressing issues of social inclusion and vulnerability, digital economy and innovation, and labor mobility to cement holistic and sustainable development impacts. Overall, MI's ability to build, generate, curate, and transfer knowledge, as it leverages its regional network deliver effective project implementation, sound policy coherence, and dynamic development programming through capacity-building investments, evidence-based studies, and knowledge exchange platforms. These services bridge cross-sectoral and multi-country synergies and engagement, as well as help instill efficient resource mobilization to aid governments and regional cooperation mechanisms in responding to current and future priority needs of people in the GMS.