Mekong Institute seen as new international org.

The body's new status was confirmed in an agreement signed by the institute's director Suchat Katima and Chitriya Pinthong, directorgeneral of the Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency (TICA), on behalf of the Thai government.

The institute was set up four years ago, with headquarters based in Thailand's northeastern province of Khon Khaen, after a charter in 2003 was signed by ministers of the six Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries alongside an Asean meeting in Phnom Penh.

The new status is more credible because the institute was initially formed as an international organisation, explained Suchat. "If you are Thai, people will not seek your assistance, but if you belong to the region, it would be more credible."

The six GMS countries, namely Burma, Cambodia, China's Yunnan province, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, will jointly research regional issues like labour migration, human trafficking and social impact of infrastructure, Suchat added.

"It is a winwin situation, one that will benefit all GMS countries," he said.

He went on to explain that the Mekong Institute was more a training and academic organisation, rather than a political one. The body provides seminars, consultation and discussions on economic and social development as well as gives policy advice in terms of implementation and cooperation, Suchat said.

When the sixcountries become members of an international organisation, they will have to assist each other and strengthen ties, he said.

"We can't guarantee that the six countries will benefit equally, but we will have a competitive advantage. For instance, Laos has a lot of land. If they want to promote contract farming, they can sell their product to Thailand, which in turn can sell the product to others," Suchat said.

The GMS countries have three goals to complete in the next five years: more communication among countries, more competitiveness in term of economics and more community building, he said.

"We have only one straight line of commitment - developing regional cooperation," he said.

Kek Naratevy

The Nation