Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai attended the Mekong-Ganga Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) in Bangkok on July 16, 2023. During the meeting, the participants agreed on various initiatives and proposals.
One of the significant outcomes of the meeting was the endorsement of Thailand’s READY proposal. READY stands for Resilience, Environmental Sustainability, Adaptation, and Diversification of economies. This proposal aims to enhance the preparedness and capacity of the Mekong-Ganga countries in dealing with challenges related to resilience, environmental sustainability, and economic diversification.
Another important decision made during the meeting was to designate the year 2025 as the “Year of Exchange.” This signifies the commitment of the participating countries to promote cultural, economic, and people-to-people exchanges among themselves.
Furthermore, the participants agreed to advance cooperation in ten specific areas. Although the specific areas of cooperation are not mentioned in your statement, they could include trade, tourism, agriculture, infrastructure development, education, technology, and other mutually beneficial sectors.
Additionally, the establishment of a Business Council was agreed upon. The Business Council will serve as a platform for enhancing trade and investment ties between the Mekong-Ganga countries. It will facilitate dialogue and collaboration among businesses, promote trade promotion activities, and explore opportunities for economic cooperation.
These decisions and initiatives taken at the Mekong-Ganga FMM demonstrate the commitment of the participating countries to strengthen regional cooperation and address common challenges in various areas of mutual interest.