07/08/2026
ITD Joins Regional Partners at Mekong Forum 2026 to Drive Sustainable GMS Development Through Nexus UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
BANGKOK, THAILAND, 23 July 2026 — The International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD), alongside the Mekong Institute (MI) and a broad coalition of regional and international partners, welcomed over 350 policymakers, development partners, private sector representatives, researchers, civil society organizations, and regional institutions to Mekong Forum 2026. The landmark event aimed to advance a more integrated approach to regional development, placing nexus thinking at the center of cross-border and cross-sector cooperation.
Held under the theme “People, Partnership, Progress: Powering GMS Development through Nexus Solutions,” the Forum fostered a stronger shared understanding that the region’s increasingly interconnected challenges—from climate change and environmental degradation to digital transformation, public health, and economic resilience—require coordinated solutions rather than isolated interventions.
“We are enabling the region to move forward together by breaking down silos and managing trade-offs across sectors. We do this by bringing stakeholders together to identify practical opportunities for stronger coordination, better resource alignment, and more integrated solutions to the challenges we share,”
— Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director of the Mekong Institute (MI).
ITD’s Strategic Engagement in Regional Growth
As a co-organizer of the Forum, ITD actively contributed to shaping dialogue around trade, investment, and sustainable economic governance across the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). ITD’s participation underscored the essential role of capacity building and policy research in aligning economic growth with sustainable development goals.
H.E. Mr. Arthayudh Srisamoot, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, called on stakeholders to embrace integrated approaches that connect sectors, institutions, and communities while placing people at the center of development. He reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment—supported by national institutions like ITD—to advancing regional cooperation through dialogue, mutual trust, and practical partnerships.
Key Highlights & Takeaways from Mekong Forum 2026
Action-Oriented Collaboration: The Forum translated dialogue into practical directions through technical sessions, innovation showcases, exhibitions, and high-level discussions. Key topics addressed transboundary environmental, economic, and public health risks—including transboundary haze, water quality, circular economy opportunities, and One Health.
Strengthening Knowledge Ecosystems: Participants emphasized that robust regional knowledge networks are critical for bridging research, policy, innovation, and financing, ensuring evidence effectively translates into regional action.
Synergy Across Regional Frameworks: Rather than creating new institutions, discussions focused on practical ways to align planning, programming, partnerships, and resources across existing Mekong cooperation mechanisms to maximize collective impact.
Enabling Future-Ready Growth: Beyond policy coordination, discussions explored how governance, human capital, digital technologies, innovation, and sustainable finance can interact to foster adaptive and resilient development pathways.
In her keynote address, Dr. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, urged the region to move beyond fragmented approaches:
“When our challenges are interconnected, our responses must be too… Strengthening collaboration, modernizing governance, and aligning investments are essential to turning nexus thinking into tangible and lasting impact across the GMS.”
A Milestone for Regional Partnership
Mekong Forum 2026 marked the 12th edition of MI’s flagship annual forum, held alongside MI’s 30th Anniversary celebrations and the launch of its 2026–2030 Strategic Framework. The Forum was supported by the New Zealand Embassy and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
The technical sessions and side events were co-organized with an esteemed coalition of regional and international partners, including:
- International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD)
- The People’s Republic of China & Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund
- Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
- GMS Knowledge Network (GMSKN) & Mekong–Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF)
- Mekong Region Futures Institute (MERFI) & Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
- Mekong River Commission (MRC) & Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI)
- United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)
- Zhejiang University & CAS Innovation Cooperation Center–Bangkok (CAS-ICCB)
- Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Asia
Thai Government Agencies: National Health Commission Office (NHCO), Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), Big Data Institute (BDI), Ministry of Commerce, and Department of Trade Negotiations (DTN).
