Opening Remarks by H.E. Pich Dun, Secretary General of Cambodia National Mekong Committee, Acting Member of the MRC Joint Committee for Cambodia, Chairperson of the MRC Joint Committee for 2010/2011

Excellencies, Representatives of Development Partners
Ladies and gentlemen
Colleagues and friends

On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, I would like to warmly welcome you all and to thank you for attending today’s dialogue.

Today’s dialogue is one among a series of important stakeholder events over the past year as the MRC prepares to implement the Integrated Water Resources Management-Based Basin Development Strategy and the organisation’s Strategic Plan for the next five years. One of the key approaches we are taking is by intensifying partnerships with an increasing range of partners and stakeholders. We have held national consultations with government agencies, and regional dialogue as we have today with civil society organisations, international organisations, NGOs, academia, research institutions to ensure that the MRC is moving in the direction that its vision and mission.

With the implementation of the two complementary strategic documents that are built upon a participatory approach, the MRC will be able to strengthen its ability to address the challenges and meet its goals of regional cooperation for sustainable development of the Mekong Basin. The upcoming five-year Strategic Plan will also provide directions for the MRC to improve the performance of its work and a new emphasis on its core river basin management functions.

Participation in this meeting means engaging in a dialogue to understand the current and key development challenges from the point of view of other stakeholders that are facing the Mekong Basin and to find out different ways for the MRC to address them in the next few years.

A decision taken last year to have the MRC Secretariat in two permanent locations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and in Vientiane, Lao PDR is a step forward towards ensuring sustainability, efficiency and effectiveness of programmes of the MRC. While Member Countries will gain from the capacity benefits of having co-hosted location, the decision not to move every five years allows the organisation to better focus its interventions at regional level and to complement national initiatives.

With this goal in mind, I anticipate that all the participants will actively interact and share frank views on the discussion questions in the agenda.

Thank you!