Press Release No. G/39/00
25 September 2000
BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services)—Business leaders and United Nations officials will meet in a Greater Mekong Subregion Business Forum (GMS-BF) jointly organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in collaboration with business associations of the GMS countries in Bangkok.
The GMS-BF is an ESCAP-ADB joint initiative for GMS chambers of commerce and industry intending to promote networking among business firms in the subregion. The upcoming meeting will launch the GMS-BF and bring together private sector representatives from the six countries, namely Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam and Yunan Province of China as well as those outside of the subregion to discuss business opportunities in the GMS.
On the agenda: broad range of topics including the economic and business outlook in the subregion, experiences of investors in doing business in the GMS and support facilities that are available to private business development in the subregion will be discussed.
The two-day meeting with financial assistance from the Government of Japan and ADB will be hosted by the Thai Chamber of Commerce under the chairmanship of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be held from 3 to 4 October 2000.
On the first day (3 October), the GSM Business Forum Core Group will meet to finalize its terms of reference, organization, budget and workplan at the United Nations Conference Centre (closed meeting).
On 4 October, the GMS Business Forum Plus is being organized with participation of business organizations outside of the subregion and other international organizations at the Siam City Hotel. Senior dignitaries are expected to address the opening session on 4 October with participation of senior level officials and high profile private sector representatives from the GMS countries and neighbouring countries.
For more information, please contact Mr. Ravi Sawhney, Director, International Trade and Industry Division, ESCAP, Bangkok, Thailand (Tel: 66-2 288-1956, Fax: 66-2 288-1026 or 1027, E-mail: trade_inf.unescap@un.org)