GMS Ministerial Conference Statement Australia 3 August 2011 Excellencies, it is my pleasure to address you here at the 17th Greater

r Mekong Subregion Ministerial Conference and deliver the following statement on behalf of the Australian Government. I would like to thank the Royal Government of Cambodia for hosting this event. I would also like to thank the ADB for the critical role it plays as secretariat of the GMS program and leading this important policy dialogue between Governments and development partners. Australia is a long-standing development partner in the Mekong and is very proud to be a significant co-financier of the GMS program. A priority for Australias engagement is helping the countries of the Mekong lay the foundation for sustainable, inclusive growth and poverty reduction in the years ahead. Regional integration and connectivity continue to be at the heart of this effort. In 2011-12, Australia will provide more than $340 million in bilateral grant aid to the six GMS countries. This includes significant support for the development of trade, transport and economic infrastructure to facilitate greater connectivity. But we know that development financing alone will not be the answer to the challenges ahead. More important will be establishing the policy frameworks and institutions that will allow the countries of the region to cooperate to build stronger trade and investment linkages, generate more jobs and increase incomes. For this reason, Australia welcomes the comprehensive and long-term vision set out in the draft Strategic Framework, which aims to set GMS priorities for the next decade. Our meetings this week provide an opportune time to finalise this important document, which will guide our joint efforts to 2022. In order to make a real difference to the lives of the poor in this region, we need a framework which focuses on delivering results. For this reason, it is important that we start with a full and frank assessment of how we have performed thus far, outline the challenges, and identify specific measures to address these. This should include data on where we stand on key measures of integration, so that we can accurately measure progress as we go forward. We also need to make certain that our results framework is clear and robust so that we can communicate our achievements. This means establishing measureable outputs and indicators linked to high-level outcomes like trade, growth and employment. And it means undertaking regular impact evaluations to assess our efforts and draw out lessons. Capacity building programs are also an important tool for advancing the GMS agenda. It is critical that these programs are targeted and prioritised in a way that supports that sustainability of major infrastructure investments, particularly where institutional blockages or a lack of knowledge and skills have the potential to reduce the returns on these investments. Capacity building programs can also provide play an important role in helping Governments design common approaches to assessing and mitigating the environmental and social impacts often associated with large infrastructure projects.

Finally, it is important that in the decade ahead the GMS program continue to strengthen the linkages with the wider regional integration agenda set out in ASEANs Economic Community Blueprint. This will ensure regulatory reforms across the region are compatible and that intra-regional trade and investment opportunities are maximised. In closing, Excellencies, I would like to thank you once again for the opportunity to address this meeting. I wish you every success in taking forward this important agenda which the Australian Government is very proud to support.