The Mississippi/Mekong Partnership

1. The Mississippi/Mekong Partnership

3. The Mekong River looking toward Laos

4. The Mississippi/Mekong Partnership • Initiated in 2003 with the support of USAID and CSG • To facilitate the planning and implementation of a Mekong River BDP • In partnership with the Mekong River Commission (MRC) • MRC member countries: Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand • China and Myanmar are official observers

5. Mekong River Commission at Vientiane, Lao PDR

6. US Partners • University of Minnesota Water Resources Center • The Mississippi River Basin Alliance • The Mississippi River Institute for Global Cooperation

7. The Mekong River Basin is Rapidly Developing • Need for Economic Growth • Need for Education • Need for Energy • Need for Technology • Need for Resource Management Tools and Systems

8. Water Resource Issues • Public Health and Safe Drinking Water • Fisheries (inland fisheries for Laos) • Water Utilization • Hydropower Development • Agriculture • Navigation and Flood Management

9. Opportunities for Trade Between Minnesota and Laos • Minnesota’s Hmong Community (and other Asian communities) • Minnesota’s Business Community • The University of Minnesota • Minnesota’s NGO Community

10. A Changing World

11. KOP JAI