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By Sothy Khieng

Experiences from the current and past financial crises, the imperatives of more broadly based and equitable social and economic development, and other regional priorities like counter-terrorism, drugs and disease control, and environmental protection, support the value of regional cooperation and integration, both sub-regionally in the Greater Mekong Subregion, and regionally in ASEAN and the broader ASEAN +3 or East Asian region. Particular value is attached to the benefits that increased regional trade, trade facilitation and transport and essential infrastructure both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’, can bring to economic and social development and to ‘bridging the development gap’ in ASEAN and East Asia.

This Cambodia case study aims at understanding the driving force behind regional integration in the GMS countries and the characteristics and interactions of the various stakeholders influencing the integration process, particularly on issues of trade, trade facilitation and related transport issues (Cross-Border Transport Agreement or “CBTA”).

The methodology of the study, involving the development of a stakeholder analysis matrix and importance/influence matrix, emphasises the collection of facts and evidence, the conduct of systematic key informant interviews using semi-structured questionnaires with key representatives from related government agencies and the private sector. A brief literature review was also done to clearly identify stakeholder interests, including a textual review of the three GMS summit statements and associated political leaders statements, and the degree of ownership and participation by the three sets of stakeholders in GMS processes to date, and their past, current and anticipated contribution to GMS integration processes and issues.

By Sothy Khieng
Experiences from the current and past financial crises, the imperatives of more broadly based and equitable social and economic development, and other regional priorities like counter-terrorism, drugs and disease control, and environmental protection, support the value of regional cooperation and integration, both sub-regionally in the Greater Mekong Subregion, and regionally in ASEAN and the broader ASEAN +3 or East Asian region. Particular value is attached to the benefits that increased regional trade, trade facilitation and transport and essential infrastructure both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’, can bring to economic and social development and to ‘bridging the development gap’ in ASEAN and East Asia. This Cambodia case study aims at understanding the driving force behind regional integration in the GMS countries and the characteristics and interactions of the various stakeholders influencing the integration process, particularly on issues of trade, trade facilitation and related transport issues (Cross-Border Transport Agreement or “CBTA”). The methodology of the study, involving the development of a stakeholder analysis matrix and importance/influence matrix, emphasises the collection of facts and evidence, the conduct of systematic key informant interviews using semi-structured questionnaires with key representatives from related government agencies and the private sector. A brief literature review was also done to clearly identify stakeholder interests, including a textual review of the three GMS summit statements and associated political leaders statements, and the degree of ownership and participation by the three sets of stakeholders in GMS processes to date, and their past, current and anticipated contribution to GMS integration processes and issues.

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