The 26^th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Ministerial Conference (MC-26), held on December 15, 2023, at the Grand Amara Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, was chaired by Dr. Kan Zaw, GMS Minister and Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations.

          The MC-26 has two key events: Retreat and Plenary. At the Ministerial Retreat, two topics—the proposal for the Preparation of a GMS Innovation Strategy for Development and Strengthening the Engagement of Local Governments in the GMS Program—were frankly exchanged by the GMS Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Heads of Delegation from GMS member countries.

          The Chair of the Conference, Dr. Kan Zaw, Union Minister, introduces the development of the GMS Innovation Strategy, and the Heads of Delegation share their thoughts and provide some kind of recommendations and suggestions on the content of such a strategy (objectives, scope, and priority areas for the GMS program) and how this can add value to national innovation strategies.

        With regard to the second topic, Strengthening the Engagement of Local Governments, Dr. Kan Zaw, Union Minister and Chair introduces the background information on the initial results of the study. Then the Heads of Delegation highlighted that it is needed to identify the possible ways to strengthen local governments’ engagement by assessing the existing mechanism and institutions in GMS countries to be an inclusive and open platform which includes the diverse stakeholders, including local governments and be more active involvement.

          The Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program which includes 6 countries along the Mekong River; the Kingdom of Cambodia, the People's Republic of China, Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam was established in 1992 and the member countries have been joining hands-in-hands by formulating the sectoral strategies; such as Agriculture, Health, Transport, Energy, Environment, Tourism, Urban Development and so on.

          Under the GMS Program, the member countries used to host the summit, ministerial conference, economic corridors forums (ECFs) and also senior officials’ meetings (SOMs) by the alphabetical order as a rotation basis. Accordingly, Myanmar has been taking the responsibility of the Chairmanship of the 26^th GMS Ministerial Conference this year 2023 as alternate host.

          The theme of MC-26: “Building a strong and cohesive GMS community with a shared future towards resilient economic development” was determined since it reflects the strong and collective strength of GMS countries over three decades of cooperation and integration to achieve a resilient economy for the subregion. In the opening session, Chair Dr. Kan Zaw delivers his opening remarks and other heads of delegations make their brief statements respectively.

          At the meeting, the report of the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Chair, which contain brief information on the recent achievements of the GMS Program and on the various 26^th GMS MC deliverables for endorsement and notation by the Ministers and Heads of Delegations, was presented by Dr. Marlar Myo Nyunt, Director General of Foreign Economic Relations Department and GMS National Coordinator of Myanmar on behalf of the GMS senior officials. Then the chairman of GMS Business Council (BC) also gives a brief report on the GMS BC’s recent activities and achievements.

          In addition, the Concept for the Preparation of a GMS Innovation Strategy for Development proposed by China was endorsed and other three initiatives; namely Scoping Study on Enhancing Digitalization in the GMS, ongoing Study to Enhance the Role of Private Sector in the GMS Program; and ongoing Study to Strengthen Local Governments’ Engagement in the GMS Program were also noted by the conference participants during the conference.

          Furthermore, the Joint Ministerial Statement of the 26^th GMS Ministerial Conference was formally endorsed by the GMS countries.

          After the meeting, the delegates who attended were treated to a Gala Lunch and were entertained with Myanmar traditional culture and dance programs.

          The delegation from the GMS member countries visited Marawijaya Pagoda and the gem museum in Nay Pyi Taw and the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Botatazung Pagoda in Yangon.

          The total of nearly 80 participants including 3 members of the Kingdom of Cambodia delegation led by H.E. Mr. Nut Unvoanra, Deputy Secretary General of Cambodian Investment Board, 7 members of the People's Republic of China delegation led by Mr. Lu Jin, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Finance, 4 members of Lao People's Democratic Republic delegation led by H.E. Madame. Phonevanh Outhavong, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Planning and Investment, 11 members of the Kingdom of Thailand delegation led by Mr. Wanchat Suwankitti,  Deputy Secretary General, Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, 5 members of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam delegation led by H.E Mr. Tran Quoc Phuong, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Planning and Investment, representatives of Mekong Institute led by Executive Director, representatives from the ministries concerned in Myanmar and GMS Business Council present at the 26^th GMS Ministerial Conference.

           Regarding this Ministerial Conference, the senior officials’ meetings, hosted by Myanmar, were held virtually in April, October and November.

          Furthermore, it is known that Myanmar has been taking her turns as an alternate host for the key events of GMS Program; 4^th GMS Summit in 2011, 4^th Economic Corridors Forum in 2012, 20^th GMS Ministerial Conference in 2015, 10^th Economic Corridors Forum in 2018 respectively.

          Additionally, Myanmar has just organized the 6^th GMS Urban Development Working Group Meeting in June and 52^nd GMS Tourism Working Group Meeting in November this year.