The second Greater Mekong sub-Region(GMS) Economic Corridor Forum opened in Cambodia’s capital city ofPhnom Penh on September 16, aiming to strengthen cooperation among thesix countries along the Mekong River.

The Vietnamese delegation to the forum was led by permanent Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Truong Van Doan.

The two-day forum focuses on an Asian Development Bank-funded project to develop cities in the GMS.

Speaking at the forum, ADB representative Arjun Goswami said that theproject is expected to turn the major sub-regional transport corridorsinto economic corridors.

To reach the target, the ADB will fund GMS member countries to helpthem fully tap socio-economic benefits due to the enhancement of tradeand the development of the transport system.

The ADB representative added that a boost in efficient economicactivities in GMS cities will create a foundation for stable andprosperous development in the region with a quick pace of urbanisation.

As scheduled, the ADB will provide a loan package of 104 million USD tothree countries--Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia--of which, 52 million USDwill be pumped into Vietnam and 26 million USD each will be injectedinto Laos and Cambodia.

The funding will be used to develop the Southern Economic Corridor(SEC) and East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) in the three countries.

Some provinces in each country will particularly benefit from thefunding, including, in Vietnam, Lao Bao and Dong Ha townships in thecentral province of Quang Tri and Moc Bai township in the south-westernprovince of Tay Ninh.

ADB is expected to give top priority to developing agriculture,industry, tourism and infrastructure in the beneficiary localities./.