5th GMS Summit kicks off in Bangkok

BANGKOK, December 19 (TNA) - The 5th Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Summit is being held in Bangkok from December 19-20, starting with a meeting of the private sector from member countries to discuss their investment plans. Thai Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told journalists that the GMS private sector meeting discussed regional investment plans, while Thailand focused on targeted investment value of about 30 billion US dollars by 2018, mostly in national transport development projects, covering road and rail links. Arkhom said GMS, in its capacity as the coordinator of its six member countries, including Myanmar, China, the three Indochinese countries of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and Thailand, is finding solutions to problems obstructing joint investment plans among the member countries. Arkhom pointed out that the cruxes include a difference in rules and regulations between the member countries, as well as those concerning the development of human resources to prepare for future investment in the region. In case of Thailand, which is 40–60 per cent agricultural-oriented, Arkhom, who is also Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), noted that international investors wishing to invest in related industries will receive special support from the government. Meanwhile, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang was the first foreign government leader to arrive in Thailand on Friday morning and will join other GMS government leaders in attending the 5th GMS Summit in the Thai capital on December 20, in which some 500 senior government officials and private business operators of all the six member countries will also participate. (TNA)