Cabinet approval to be sought for Thai delegation, framework for upcoming Mekong meet

Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin said the Cabinet will be asked to give the go-ahead in time for the 30th MRC meeting and the 28th Development Partners Consultative Group Meeting to be held in Cambodia’s Seim Reap on November 24.

Somsak also chaired a meeting with the Thai National Mekong Committee last Wednesday to prepare for the upcoming MRC meeting.

At the meeting, the committee discussed the composition of the Thai delegation and the terms of reference for the selection of the MRC Secretariat’s new CEO.

Somsak said the meeting resolved to have the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) propose a framework and composition of the Thai delegation to the Cabinet for approval.

Somsak said the meeting also resolved to add representatives from the Hydro Informatics Institute and the Department of Climate Change and Environment to the delegation.

Meanwhile, ONWR secretary-general Dr Surasee Kittimongkol said the current and expected state of the Mekong River was also on last week’s meeting’s agenda.

The meeting was informed of the progress of the memorandum of understanding that is being drafted regarding water resources management between the ONWR and Laos’ Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

The meeting was informed that the MoU has not been drafted yet but the process is being expedited.