The Mekong River Commission (MRC) is very pleased to invite stakeholders from community representatives, national and regional civil society organizations, governmental agencies, private sectors in the Lower Mekong Basin and interested international networks to join one of the most important annual events of the MRC namely 3rd Regional Stakeholder Forum on Mekong Basin Development Plan. This Forum is the key event of the MRC that will address and integrate all key issues within the Mekong Basin into one dialogue and to improve the MRC’s action plan that recognizes the whole Mekong River Basin as a single ecosystem.
The Forum will be held in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 29-30 July, 2010, under the key theme "Decoding the Development Scenarios and Strategy for Basin Development: What does the future hold?".
The focus of the Forum is to seek critical views and inputs from stakeholders on the Planning Process of the Lower Mekong Basin led by the MRC which includes
- One of the most important assignment of the MRC – the results of Cumulative Assessment on Hydrological, Economic, Social and Environmental Impacts from the key development sectors of mainstream & national tributary’s hydropower, irrigation, navigation, flood control and fishery in the LMB. What does the results entail? What are the likely acceptable degree of development in the Basin?
- The development of the Basin Development Strategy for the LMB. How could it be agreed among the Member Countries and stakeholders, and used as an effective regional tool/process in guiding the sustainable future of the Basin?
- River Basin Organizations: What are strengths and weaknesses of river basin management through an RBO? Is it really the best mechanism for the time being? What should be the MRC’s role to national RBOs in the Mekong region?
The deadline for registration is June 30. Please visit http://www.mrcmekong.org/MRC_news/3rd-regional-stakeholder-forum-BDP.htm [2].
The participation of the Forum is limited to 200 participants. Nevertheless, there needs to ensure a balance of participants among the groups identified above therefore, please register early to secure a seat for your participation. (Very Limited financial support is available for participants from government agencies, representatives of community groups and national NGOs, giving priority to those who have attended the 1st and 2nd Forum and/or have engaged in the MRC BDP process.)
The Forum will be conducted in English. Simultaneous translation from English into Khmer, Lao, Thai and Vietnamese languages will be provided.
CALL FOR PAPERS – Please see the separate announcement file attached.
EXHIBITION - The MRC also extend an invitation to those stakeholder groups who are interested in presenting their relevant work in the exhibition of the Forum.
Contacts
For registration and sponsorship request:
Ms. Chitlatda Keomuongchanh
National Junior Sociologist
Basin Development Plan Programme
Mekong River Commission Secretariat, Vientiane, Lao PDR
Tel: + 856-21 263 263 ext. 2118
Fax: + 856-21 263 264
Email: [email protected] [3]
For technical information, papers and exhibition:
Mr. Suparerk Janprasart
Sociologist/Socio-economist
Basin Development Plan Programme
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
Vientiane, Lao PDR
Tel: + 856 21 263 263 ext: 2108
Email: [email protected] [4]
For communication and media
Mr. Khy Lim
Communication Officer
International Cooperation and Communication Section
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
Vientiane, Lao PDR
Tel: + 856 21 263 263 ext: 2418
Email: [email protected] [5]