Private sector development a focus of GMS
Plans for developing the private sector in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) will be among priorities of the GMS Business Council (GMS BC) from 2018 to 2020, heard a panel discussion in the framework of the GMS Business Summit in Hanoi on March 30.
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Delegates pose for a photo at the event (Photo: VNA) |
Phan Vinh Quang, Deputy Director of the Mekong Business Initiative (MBI) affirmed that the GMS BC has developed many ideas and visions to support the regional private sector, suggesting more programmes, projects and resources be provided to increase the sector’s participation in the regional development.
He suggested the GMS BC implement more activities, including staff training in business operation skills to support the private sector, particularly micro-, super micro, and women-run enterprises.
Dr. Sombat Thiratrakoolchai, Vice Chairman of the Thailand’s CP Foods PCL, said his company has made investment in all GMS nations. He underlined the significance for the GMS and regional enterprises to work together as one for the sake of community.
The CP Foods PCL creates jobs with equal salary, benefits, training and promotion opportunities for all employees no matter where they come from, he said, adding that the company also cares about the environment.
The winner of the Startups of the Mekong AgriTech Challenge (MATCh) highlighted the opportunities and challenges to startups to reach out for finance and technical assistance in the highly competitive market, not only in a certain country, but also in the whole region.
She also stressed the need for development of technology solutions for SMEs and MSMEs access to finance and regional value chain.
Will Taing, Director of the Australia-based Beanstalkagtech Technology Company, said his company has provided agricultural technology solutions to many clients in the Mekong region.
The GMS Business Summit gives his company in particular and other international firms to connect with potential GMS partners, particularly Vietnamese ones, he said.
Lan Vy Nguyen, CEO of the VKStar Ltd., Company, organiser of Ao Dai (long dress) shows, highlighted the similarities in cultural values among people in the GMS nations. She hoped that the GMS mechanism in general and the GMS Business Summit will connect her company with potential markets, thus introducing the Vietnamese traditional culture to the regional countries.
The GMS Business Summit, a highlight of the sixth Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit (GMS-6), aims to strengthen dialogues between enterprises and governments and connect businesses in the region and the world, while encouraging resources from the private sector for the GMS Programme.
The GMS cooperation was launched in 1992 as an initiative of the ADB. The GMS Economic Cooperation Programme is the most complete cooperation programme that involves Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and China’s Yunnan and Guangxi provinces.
The programme prioritises infrastructure development, energy, telecommunications, tourism, trade-investment, human resources, and the environment.