The funding, to be disbursed through 2010, will be used for programmes on environmental protection, basin development plans, aquaculture and institutional support in the countries of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

Among the core programmes to receive financial support will be the basin development plan to help improve the water management capacity of the four MRC member countries and ensure that they share and use water in a fair and sustainable manner.

To cope with possible threats to people’s livelihoods from a more conservative use of water resources, the MRC will earmark funds to conduct studies on fisheries and support a technical advisory group for the basis of fisheries management.

Swedish Minister of International Cooperation and Development, Gunilla Carlsson, said that her government believes the MRC will play a vital role in ensuring the sustainable use and development of the Mekong River and boosting the economic development of the MRC countries.

The MRC came into being when Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam signed the Mekong Agreement in 1995. The river basin is located in the territories of six countries, which include Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.