The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) will host the "2nd Korea-Mekong International Water Forum" at the Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Hotel in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon from September 7 for two days.

The "Korea-Mekong International Water Forum" is a large-scale international event attended by Korea and five countries in the Mekong River region (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam), as well as development cooperation agencies in the Mekong region such as the U.S. Embassy in South Korea and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

This event includes the participation of Minister Han Wha-jin from the Ministry of Environment, Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future (8th Secretary-General of the United Nations), government representatives and ambassadors from the five Mekong countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam), as well as participation from the United States, Australia, international organizations, and domestic water companies involved in Mekong region development cooperation agencies.

The theme of this event is "Enhancing Climate Resilience in the Mekong Region through Digital Water Management," and it will discuss the necessity of digital water management to address the climate crisis, as well as practical cooperation measures and the exploration of new projects for solving water issues in the Mekong region, following the first forum.

On September 7, two sessions will be held as pre-events to share information about water-related projects in the Mekong region, and on September 8, the main event, including the opening ceremony and high-level dialogues, will take place.

Minister Han Wha-jin will emphasize during the opening ceremony that innovation in water management policies based on scientific evidence and technology is necessary to address water issues in the Mekong region in the era of the climate crisis, and that now is the time for everyone to gather their capabilities and wisdom.

Following the opening ceremony, during the "High-Level Dialogue," high-ranking officials from South Korea, the five Mekong basin countries, and participating agencies will discuss  cooperation measures for climate resilience and digital water management in the Mekong region. Subsequently, Korea and the United States plan to sign a Letter of Intent (LOI) for joint projects to address water issues and enhance disaster response capabilities in the downstream Mekong countries.

In the afternoon session, the "Mekong Development Partner Roundtable" will provide a platform for discussions between government officials from the Mekong region, development cooperation agencies, and domestic water companies, and discussions will focus on building cooperation channels and exploring new projects. In the "Thematic Sessions," discussions and presentations will take place for solving water issues in the Mekong region under four sub-themes (digital, infrastructure, finance, governance).

Minister Han Wha-jin of the Ministry of Environment stated, "The Korea-Mekong International Water Forum serves as a platform for international cooperation in the field of water where development cooperation agencies and water companies can meet, discuss water-related issues, and share information, not only among Mekong countries but also beyond." She added, “We hope that this event would be an opportunity to bring about substantial changes in addressing water issues in the Mekong region."

Contact: Lee Eun-Kyung, Deputy Director

Water Industry and International Cooperation Division / +82-(0)44-201-7635