The German and Danish governments have committed to providing a total of 7.73 million US dollars to support the work of the Mekong River Commission (MRC).
Agreements to this effect were signed in Vientiane, Laos, last week on the sidelines of the 15th MRC session and the 13th consultative group meeting for the MRC.
Of the assistance, Germany agreed a 3 million EUR (4.43 million USD) commitment over a two and half year period, from December 2008 to May 2011, for technical cooperation through GTZ to support the MRC work.
Meanwhile, Denmark will provide 18 million Danish kroner (3.3 million USD) to support the work of the MRC fisheries program for the next two years.
The German renewed support will continue to be used on the MRC-GTZ Watershed Management Project, Phase III. While Denmark’s assistance, which will come to the MRC Fisheries Programme, Phase II for 2009-2010, follows on from a previous grant of 30 million DKK (5.5 million USD) to the Fisheries Programme in 2005-2008.
Germany and Denmark have supported the MRC for many years, focusing on sustainable watershed management, flood management and mitigation, environment programs, the basin development plan, and the fisheries program.
Signing of the agreements proved the continued support and involvement of the MRC’s development partners, Khempheng Pholsena, Chairman of the Laos National Mekong Committee, told reporters on November 8.
Closed-door MRC meetings were held recently in Vientiane, drawing senior officials from four MRC member countries and development partners. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Permanent Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Xuan Cuong.
Established in 1995, the MRC includes Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, sharing the Mekong basin.
