The Connectivity for Regional Development The Chiang Rai-Kunming via Water Supply Construction Lao PDR Road Improvement Project for Five Districts in Lao Project (Route No.3) PDR Financial Assistance 17 Projects Total 11,784 Mil. Baht Technical Assistance 10 Projects Ban Huag (Phayao)-Muang Total 147 Mil. Baht Khob-Muang Xiang Hone and The Rehabilitation of Route Muang Khob-Ban Pakkhob-Ban No.3 (Houay Xay-Ban Sod Koneteun Road Improvement Section) Project Railway Construction from Houi Kon-Pak Beng Road Friendship Bridge to Ban Development Project Financial Assistance 2 Projects Tanaleng Total 150 Mil. Baht Technical Assistance 2 Projects Total 38 Mil. Baht Hongsa District-Ban Chiang Railway Construction Project Man (Chomphet District, Luang Phase ll from Ban Tanaleng to Prabang Province) Road Vientiane Construction Project Poodoo-Paklay Road Wattay International Airport Construction Project Improvement Project Financial Assistance 2 Projects Total 2,168 Mil. Baht Technical Assistance 2 Projects Total 32 Mil. Baht The Improvement of the Road The Improvement of Drainage Linkage Thailand-Myanmar Channel Phase ll (Nongduang Project (Mae Sod-Myawaddy) Noy) Project National Road No.11 (NR 11) Road Improvement Project (Ban Pakse Airport Improvement tad Thong-Nam Sang Bridge Phase ll Financial Assistance 1 Project and to Sang Thong District) Total 123 Mil. Baht Technical Assistance 2 Projects Total 27 Mil. Baht Construction of Wattay Koh Kong-Sre Ambel Road National Road No.67 Drainage System Improvement Improvement Project (Routh Construction Project (Anlong Pakse Airport Improvement Project No.48) Veng-Siem Reap) Project The Construction of Drainage The Construction of Urban Road System and T2 Road Improvement Project in Improvement Project in Preparation for Hosting of the Vientiane Capital City 9th ASEM Summit in 2012 EDITORIAL 1 Mr. Newin Sinsiri 8 Ms. Chanita Kehatat President of NEDA Project Analyst 2 Mrs. Munchula Siricharoen 9 Ms. Benyapha Thanasakdhiwat Director of Administration Bureau Project Analyst 3 Ms. Wipa Sisod 10 Ms. Moticha Rukwijidkul Senior Treasury Analyst Project Analyst 4 Ms. Watchawee Pomnara 11 Ms. Watcharee Khampul Accountants Senior Public Relations Officer 5 Ms. Chakriya Kathaleephan 12 Ms. Pennapa Ocharos Policy Planning Analyst Administration Officer 6 Mr. Pattanakit Ratmanibodidet Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency Policy Planning Analyst (Public Organization) : NEDA Suntowers Bldg. A 14th Fl., 123 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Rd., Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 7 Ms. Pimchanok Jawrakate Tel. (662) 617 7676 Project Analyst Fax. (662) 617 7683 2 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW NEDA’s role in Supporting the Implementation of Initiatives under the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program (GMS) Greater Mekong Subregion countries have attracted along the border of countries and along the economic the attention of the major powers and countries around corridors can stimulate the economic growth in the region the world as they consist of ​​6 Mainland Southeast and increases the volume of trade and investment. For Asian countries including Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, there are 5 pilot areas that are designated for Myanmar, Vietnam and Southern part of The People’s the Special Economic Zone: (1) Mae Sot, (2) Mukdahan, Republic of China, with total population of 240 (3) Sa Kaeo, (4) Trad and (5) Songkhla. The development million people and combined GDP of about 664 billion of deep sea port and Dawei Special Economic Zone US Dollars. GMS can also be linked to major markets between Thailand and Myanmar will help connect to in Asia which are China and India. The GMS Summit, supply chain in Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard and in held every three years, is the venue where participating Cambodia along the GMS Southern Economic Corridor countries show their determination to cooperate in (SEC). sustainable economic and social development. At the 5th GMS Summit held during 19-20 December 2014 in The role of Neighboring Countries Economic Bangkok, which Thailand was the host, the Leaders of Development Cooperation Agency (Public Organization) the 6 countries agreed on a Joint Summit Declaration (NEDA) is to support the implementation of GMS RIF-IP, (JSD) which focusing on of the development of regional particularly in development of transportation network infrastructures connectivity both hard infrastructure and linkages, transportation routes and key border soft infrastructure (such as the Cross-Border Transport areas which will support the integration of ASEAN Agreement (CBTA)), transforming of Transport Corridors Community. NEDA has been cooperating with GMS into Economic Corridors, as well as cooperating in the neighboring countries which are Cambodia, Lao PDR, implementation of the Regional Investment Framework Myanmar and Vietnam by providing financial and Implementation Plan (RIF-IP) to achieve the concrete technical assistance. NEDA’s core projects that help outcomes. enhance the transport connectivity included the Chiang Rai -Kunming Road Construction in Lao PDR (R3) which is According to the RIF-IP, GMS countries have given the route along the North-South Economic Corridor of the priority to the development of transportation network, GMS connecting Thailand to Southern China via Lao PDR which the investment volume accounted for 89% of the (Chiang Khong-Huay Sai-Luang Namtha-Boten-Kunming). total investment. For Thailand, the priority was given This R3 route promotes trade, investment and tourism on the development of land and sea transportation in the region. Another example is the improvement of 8 Ms. Chanita Kehatat network, particularly for Thailand-China joint-development the Road Linkage between Thailand-Myanmar Project Analyst of the international railway in 2 routes: (1) Nong Khai- (Mae Sod-Myawaddy) which is the road along EWEC 9 Ms. Benyapha Thanasakdhiwat KaengKhoi-Bangkok route and (2) KaengKhoi-Map linking Mawlamyine, Myanmar to Da Nang, Vietnam. In Project Analyst Ta Phut route. For the development of road transportation, extending financial and technical assistance, NEDA will the highway construction projects of Bang Yai- take into consideration the agreements at the 5th GMS 10 Ms. Moticha Rukwijidkul Project Analyst Kanchanaburi is the priority as it can be linked to Dawei Summit in order to effectively support transportation Special Economic Zone. network linkages in the region. As the development 11 Ms. Watcharee Khampul partner in the subregion, NEDA’s role is to improve quality Senior Public Relations Officer GMS countries are aware of the benefits of the of lives in neighboring countries, to help them be ready 12 Ms. Pennapa Ocharos Economic Corridors linkage such as the East-West for the ASEAN Community, and to support sustainable Administration Officer Economic Corridor (EWEC). The Special Economic Zone economic and social development throughout the region. 3 CHALLENGING ANSWER! LET’S GUESS..“What is the name of the Capital of these 8 countries?” Bhutan Lao PDR Vietnam Myanmar Thailand Cambodia Sri Lanka Prizes: NEDA’s 10th Anniversary Exclusive Pen Timor-Leste for the first 20 persons who answered correctly. * Send your answer with your name-last name / phone number / address for the delivery of the prize, to e-mail: [email protected] NEIGHBORS CORNER The country which has rich tourism resources that are attractively charming now, would inevitably be Myanmar. After opening the country to the world, the Visiting BAGAN country is full of tourists from everywhere. Myanmar got various diverse tourist attractions such as Shwedagon Pagoda in the former capital, Yangon; the old palace KINGDOM, in Mandalay city; or Bagan Pagodas field. enjoy a fantastic view of Four Today we would like to introduce Bagan, the “City of Four Thousand Pagodas”. Thousand Pagodas field. Bagan is the capital city of Myanmar established by King Anawrahta in the 9th century and situated on the bank of the Ayeyarwaddy. During Bagan era, all the kings were devoted to Buddhism and they believed that building pagodas will bring wealth and goodwill to them. In those days, it was believed that there were over 10,000 pagodas. Myanmar has developed tourism industries to cope with the increase tourists from all over the world. There are activities in Bagan such as cycling, horse cart-riding, or balloon tour which will allow tourists to see the landscape of pagoda field from the ground and from the sky. The highlight will be during sun rise and sun set. As river is the heart of agriculture in the country, cruising the Ayeyarwaddy would be a fantastic way to spend the time in Bagan. Moreover, you can enjoy the Dandaree which is the very beautiful performance. Important landmark in Bagan include Shwezigon Pagoda, Htilominlo Pahto, and Ananda Phaya. 4 SPECIAL ARTICLES HONGSA- CHIANG MAN ROAD PROJECT Project of road construction from Hongsa city-Ban Chiang Thailand and Lao PDR through Huay Kon border Man (Chom Phet city, Luang Prabang Sub-district) in Lao crossing in Chaloem Phra Kiat District, Nan Province, PDR (approximately 114 kilometers), is the project that to Luang Prabang which is a tourist destination which NEDA had provided technical have been registered as the world heritage. In addition, assistance to carry out this project will help promote the twin cities strategy feasibility study and preliminary design, and between Nan Province and Luang Prabang District, as detailed design. Subsequently, on November 12, 2014, well as in line with the strategy of Thailand in extending the Thai Cabinet approved for a financial assistance transport linkages with its neighboring countries which of 1,977 Million Baht to support the project. The will benefit the economy of both countries in terms of financial assistance consist of 80% concessional investment in industry, agriculture, tourism and service, loan totaling 1,581.60 Million Baht and 20% grant and trade of consumer goods, fuels or products used totaling 395.40 Million Baht. On November 26, 2014, in the agriculture and industrial sector. More trade and H.E. Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister and H.E. investment will increase the standard of leaving of the Thongsing Thammavong, Prime Minister of Lao PDR, people of Lao PDR.