History and Background
The Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya – Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy or ACMECS, was established in 2003 as a platform to stimulate the economic cooperation and development of the sub-region revolving around the three major rivers – the Ayeyawady in Myanmar, the Chao Phraya in Thailand, and the Mekong which runs through Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Viet Nam.
- Established at the Bagan Summit, Myanmar
- 2003
- Member countries
- 5
- Development partners
- 7
Member Countries
Five countries, three rivers — the Ayeyawady, the Chao Phraya and the Mekong.
Development Partners
Australia
China
India
Japan
New Zealand
Republic of Korea
USA
The Establishment of ACMECS
The initiative to establish ACMECS, which was then called the Economic Cooperation Strategy, has been raised at the special ASEAN Summit on SARS, held in Bangkok on 29 April 2003, with leaders of Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar, and Thailand.
- 29 April 2003Special Summit on SARS
- 12 November 20031st ACMECS Summit “Bagan Declaration”
- 10 May 2004Viet Nam Joins ACMECS
The Bagan Declaration
On 12 November 2003 in Bagan, Myanmar, The leaders of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand met for the first time at the historic Bagan Summit and adopted the Bagan Declaration, affirming their commitment to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership. They also agreed to call this cooperation agreement “Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya – Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy” or ACMECS. Soon later, on 10 May 2004, Viet Nam has joined the group resulting in having five member countries in ACMECS.
Areas of Cooperation
In addition, at the Bagan Summit, ACMECS member countries are also agreed to cooperate in five priority areas, which are Trade and Investment Facilitation, Agricultural and Industrial Cooperation, Transport linkages, Tourism Cooperation and Human Resources Development. In the Second and Third ACMECS Summit, the country members have endorsed new sectors of cooperation, therefore, the areas of cooperation established under ACMECS are:
- Trade and Investment Facilitation
- Agriculture
- Transport
- Tourism
- Human Resource Development
- Public Health
- Industrial and Energy Cooperation
- Environmental Cooperation
ACMECS Master Plan 2019–2023
On 16 June 2018, at the eighth ACMECS Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, the ACMECS member countries have adopted the “ACMECS Master Plan 2019-2023” in which ACMECS Cooperation to be carried through three goals/pillars, namely:
- Pillar 01
Seamless ACMECS
Promote seamless connectivity through multi-modal transport links.
- Pillar 02
Synchronized ACMECS
Enhance software connectivity by fostering trade, investment, industrial cooperation, and financial cooperation.
- Pillar 03
Smart and Sustainable ACMECS
Promote the development of human capital in strategic areas, while retaining existing areas of cooperation established under ACMECS.