More than 50 representatives from the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) are attending a two-day workshop in Vientiane to discuss environmental activities and projects planned along the East-West Economic Corridor.

GSM representatives from Laos , Cambodia , China , Myanmar , Thailand and Vietnam met with stakeholders from ministries and line agencies as well as experts from the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and Winrock/USAID.

The East-West Corridor is designed to provide enhanced infrastructure links in the region. Its purpose is to generate increased interaction between GMS countries in the energy, transport, trade and agriculture sectors.

Director General of the GMS National Secretariat Ms Keobang-A Keola said previous discussions had featured many different concepts.

The Vientiane meeting was an opportunity to focus on those activities which are of most relevance to Laos .

These aim to assess the sustainability of development related to expansion of the electricity network and mining industry, with a particular focus on Road No. 9 as a conduit for GMS cooperation. Road No. 9 is part of the 1,450km long corridor, which traverses four countries.

The government of Finland has provided funding for these activities for the period 2009-2011.

In addition, the Asian Development Bank aims to integrate environmental issues into mainstream policy considerations and decision-making through its support of the Biodiversity Conservation Corridor Initiative.

Ms Keobang-A said increased risk assessment capacity was needed among officials so they could identify key environmental indicators.

“We don't mean to stop development, but we will try to minimise its environmental impact and repair environmental damage,” she said.

She cited the example of planting trees to reduce the impact of vehicle exhaust fu mes along the corridor.

“We need to encourage the use of bio-fuel or alternative energy. Agriculture is also a major issue as education is needed on the effects of economic development on the climate, rainfall patterns and soil fertility,” she said.