On July 15, 2024, the ASEAN-Japan Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AEM-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee: AMEICC) organized the 29th Meeting on Mekong-Japan Economic and Industrial Cooperation under the West-East Economic Corridor Working Group (WEC-WG) in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The meeting was held to follow up on the progress of the cooperation framework, with Mr. Samly Boutsady, Director General of the Department of Industry, Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, serving as the co-chair. Mr. Yasuji Komiyama, Deputy Director-General of the Trade Policy and Economic Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI), co-chaired the meeting. Representatives from the International Cooperation Strategy and Coordination Division of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council and the Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand, along with representatives from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam, as well as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), participated in the meeting.<\/p>\n\n
The meeting acknowledged the progress of 21 projects under the Mekong Industrial Development Vision 2.0 (MIDV 2.0) over the past year. Most projects were found to be proceeding according to plan, including projects supporting energy transition planning, joint pilot projects for digital transformation, supply chain strengthening initiatives, and infrastructure development projects.<\/p>\n\n
Furthermore, the meeting discussed projects set to commence in 2024, which will focus on climate change mitigation transitions in the region. These include joint creative projects for the Global South’s future, projects for sustainable transition and development of supply chains in the Mekong region, initiatives to support the creation of sustainable and resilient agricultural and food systems in ASEAN, and projects to enhance customs efficiency to improve connectivity in the Mekong region.<\/p>\n\n
The MIDV 2.0 vision is an operational plan under the Mekong-Japan Economic and Industrial Cooperation Initiative (MJ-CI) framework to promote regional development. It comprises three main pillars: Connectivity, Digital Innovation, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2023, member countries under the MJ-CI cooperation agreed to incorporate the ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Vision to complement the implementation of MIDV 2.0, which will enhance cooperation with the private sector.<\/p>\n\n
International Cooperation Strategy and Coordination Division