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Building Stronger Bonds: Mekong Ganga Cooperation [MAP]

The Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) is a sub-regional initiative launched in 2000, comprising six countries – India, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam – aimed at boosting cooperation in a range of areas including connectivity, tourism, and culture. The initiative stands on a strong foundation of shared geographical, historical, and civilizational ties among the member countries, making it one of the oldest sub-regional cooperation platforms in the region. The MGC is an important platform for India to deepen its engagement with the Mekong region, and to broaden the base of partnership by identifying newer areas of cooperation.
Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC)
- India’s policy towards its neighbours is based on ‘Neighbourhood First’ and Mekong Ganga Cooperation is a step toward that direction.
- The aim of Neighbourhood First policy is to come across its neighbours as a country which is growing economically and strategically and willing to share its prosperity with them, as India believes that a prosperous neighbourhood means prosperous and secured India.
- The success of India’s Act East policy, economic integration with the South East region, development of North East, progress of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) all are related in its aim to Mekong-Ganga Cooperation.
Members Nations
The MGC is an initiative by six countries – India and five ASEAN countries- Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam
Member countries of Mekong-Ganga Cooperation
- India
- Thailand
- Myanmar
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Vietnam
Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Working Groups
Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Working Groups | Lead Country |
---|---|
Working Group on Tourism | Thailand |
Working Group on Education (HRD) | India |
Working Group on Culture | Cambodia |
Working Group on Communication & Transport | Laos PDR |
Working Group on Plan of Actions | Vietnam |
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Launched
It was launched in 2000 at Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Mandate
Areas of Cooperation under Mekong-Ganga Cooperation
- Areas of Cooperation
- Tourism
- Culture
- Education
- Transportation
- Cooperation in tourism, culture, education, as well as transport and communications.
- Both the Ganga and the Mekong are civilizational rivers, and the MGC initiative aims to facilitate closer contacts among the people inhabiting these two major river basins.
- The MGC is also indicative of the cultural and commercial linkages among the member countries of the MGC down the centuries.

Significance of Mekong-Ganga Cooperation
- Aspects of Significance
- Collaboration between the six countries in various key sectors.
- Aim to strengthen cultural and commercial ties.
- Indicative of linkages among the member countries.
- Aims to facilitate closer contacts among the people.
- Mutual benefits in the development of the region.
Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Meetings and Their Outcomes
Meeting | Date | Outcomes |
---|---|---|
Second MGC Ministerial Meeting | July 28, 2001 | Member countries adopted the Hanoi Programme of Action, affirming their commitment to cooperate in four areas of cooperation |
Third MGC Ministerial Meeting | June 20, 2003 | Member countries adopted the Phnom Penh Road Map as a plan to accelerate the implementation of all MGC projects and activities. |
Fourth MGC Ministerial Meeting | January 12, 2007 | India took over the chairmanship of MGC from Thailand |
Fifth MGC Ministerial Meeting | August 1, 2007 | – |
Sixth MGC Ministerial Meeting | Sept 3-4, 2012 | Senior officials meeting held on September 3, whereas the Foreign Ministers meet was held on September 4, 2012. India hosted the meeting for the first time. |
Seventh MGC Ministerial Meeting | July 24, 2016 | Collaboration under MGC must be given a sense of urgency since it actively supports the Initiative for ASEAN Integration and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, and contributes towards the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. |
Ninth MGC Ministerial Meeting | August 2, 2018 | Ministers emphasized trade enhancement, investments in projects, maritime connectivity, sharing information and cooperation in Pandemic management, concord food security, historical and cultural ties among the nations in the region. |
Tenth Mekong–Ganga Cooperation Ministerial Meeting | 1 August 2019 | – |
Twelfth Mekong–Ganga Cooperation Senior Officials’ Meeting | 3 September 2020 | held virtually due to COVID-19 |
Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Plan of Action (2019-2022)
This Plan of Action implements the goals of the MGC Partnership for the years (2019-2022) by laying out activities to be undertaken by all parties to further deepen and enhance cooperation in the MGC priority sectors.
Cooperation Areas decided in Plan of Action
- Cultural Cooperation
- Tourism Cooperation
- Cooperation in Education
- Cooperation in Public Health and Traditional Medicine
- Cooperation in Agriculture and Allied Sectors
- Cooperation in Water Resources Management
- Cooperation in Science and Technology
- Cooperation in Transport and Communications
- Cooperation in MSMEs
- Skill Development and Capacity Building
- Quick Impact Projects Scheme
Mekong-Ganga Cooperation and India’s Look-East Policy
- MGC supports India’s Look-East connectivity projects.
- Aim to enhance connectivity and cooperation with ASEAN.
- Both initiatives aim for regional cooperation and growth.
In conclusion, the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) initiative is an important platform for India to engage with the Mekong region, consisting of six countries – Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and India. The initiative, launched in 2000, has expanded to encompass a wide range of areas including culture, tourism, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted the importance of multi-dimensional engagement with the Mekong countries and the need to identify newer areas of cooperation to broaden the partnership. The MGC partnership is built on shared geographical, historical, and civilizational ties among the six countries, and it serves as a vehicle to advance modern-day cooperation to bring progress and prosperity to the people.
Want to Learn more about MGC refer to Officil Government of India website here