FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The World Bank
East Asia & Pacific Region
News Release No. 00/xxxx/EAP
Media Contacts:
In Washington: Sharon Goldstein (202) 473-3531
e-mail: sgoldstein@worldbank.org
Fax (202) 522-3405
In Bangkok: Melissa Fossberg (66-2) 256-7792
e-mail: mfossberg@woldbank.org
Fax: (66-2) 256-7794
In Hanoi: Ha Thanh Hoang (84-4) 8-432-234
e-mail: hha@worldbank.org
Fax: (84-4) 8-432-471
GEF GRANT SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT TO
PROTECT MEKONG RIVER BASIN
WASHINGTON, February 14, 2000 – Rural poor living in the Mekong River Basin will
benefit from a US$11 million equivalent Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant to the
Mekong River Commission (MRC) approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors.
The grant will assist the MRC in promoting and improving sustainable water management in the
Mekong River Basin, and to protect the environment, aquatic life, and the ecological balance of
the Basin.
Rules of the MRC-member
states
as stated in the Mekong
The MRC is an inter-governmental organization of the
Agreement (1995):
four lower Mekong Basin states: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand,
 Proper notification and
and Vietnam. The Water Utilization Project aims to support
consultation of water uses
the MRC in developing an integrated and comprehensive Basin
 Maintenance of flows on
hydrologic modeling package and a functional and integrated
the Mekong River,
knowledge base on water and related resources and use these
particularly maintenance of
tools to establish “Rules,” one of MRC’s five major golas. The
dry season flows
rules, or obligations, of the member states will establish

Measures to protect the
guidelines for water utilization and ecological protection,
water quality, including the
primarily the sensitive ecological systems including wetlands
aquatic eco-systems
and flooded forests.
 Procedures for monitoring
water use
“The Mekong Basin possesses a large portion of the

Procedures for information
region’s potential water sources. These water sources have the
exchange and monitoring
ability to support economic growth through irrigation,
hydropower, navigation, water supply, and tourism,” said Mei
Xie, Water Resources Management Specialist for the World Bank. “This Grant will support
MRC and the member states to ensure that development of the water resources us carried out in
a sustainable manner that preserves the environment. Implementation of the Mekong Agreement
requires strong political commitment from all member states and the participation and support
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of stakeholders in the basin and external parties.”
In achieving the Bank’s overall objective of poverty alleviation through sustainable
development of natural resources, the Bank supports this regional initiative that helps countries
deal with trans-boundary issues, such as international water resources. The 1995 Mekong
Agreement reflects the goodwill of MRC-member states to cooperate in the sustainable
development of the Basin, and to create a positive foreign policy environment in the region.
“In the past, the MRC has collected a huge amount of information on the Mekong Basin
but because of insufficient integration of data and expertise, it was ill-equipped to use its data
for management purpose,” said Ms. Xie.“ The MRC’s new Strategic Plan calls for a shift of
MRC focus away from managing specific projects to managing water and natural related
resources in the Basin.”
The Project will be implemented by the MRC who will work through Secretariat located
in Phnom Penh and through the National Mekong Committees, with national line agencies, local
communities, and other stakeholders such as the private sector and NGOs to enhance the
project’s sustainability. The Bank is cooperating closely with UNDP and bilateral donors in this
effort
While this project has a seven-year span, it should be seen as a step on a long road,
aiming to provide an opportunity to bring governments together for meaningful and successful
interactions on improved and sustainable basin management.
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