MCDF Participates in 2025 CAREC and GMS Ministerial Conferences

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) remotely participated in the 24^th Ministerial Conference of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program, held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from 18-21 November, and the 27^th Ministerial Conference of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Program, held in Bangkok, Thailand from 26-28 November 2025. MCDF was represented by Senior Advisor to the CEO, Mr. Ayumi Konishi.

The 24^th CAREC Ministerial Conference consisted of a two-day CAREC Business Forum on 18-19 November, a Ministerial Conference on 20 November, and a Development Partners Retreat on 21 November. During the CAREC Business Forum, Mr. Konishi took note of CAREC countries’ strong desire for greater private sector participation in regional development and investment. He also observed the Green and Digital CAREC-themed Ministerial Conference’s high-level sessions on physical and digital connectivity, trade, climate resilience, human development, and knowledge sharing, as well as CAREC countries’ key regional initiative signings and endorsement of sectoral action plans.

The CAREC Development Partners Retreat provided a platform for MCDF and other CAREC development partners to discuss concrete actions to strengthen collaboration, including building a regional project pipeline, enhancing project monitoring and evaluation, and mobilizing resources. Partners also explored ways to enhance institutional and knowledge coordination, including joint knowledge products. Mr. Konishi introduced MCDF’s recent report on International Financial Institution connectivity infrastructure investment in Central and West Asia, part of the flagship MCDF Connectivity Infrastructure Report Series, and called for close collaboration on multi-layered technical assistance initiatives.    

The 27^th GMS Economic Cooperation Program Ministerial Conference consisted of the Development Partners’ Meeting on 26 November, Local Governments’ Forum and Business Forum on 27 November, and Ministerial Conference on 28 November which underscored GMS countries' shared commitment to becoming an open platform and embracing private sector solutions. GMS countries and partners, such as MCDF, reaffirmed the GMS Program’s strategic focus on “community, connectivity, and competitiveness, while embracing the core principles of environmental sustainability and resilience, internal and external integration, and inclusivity for building a GMS community with a bright shared future.”

At the Development Partners’ Meeting, Asian Development Bank Deputy Director General for Southeast Asia, Mr. Pavid Ramachandran, thanked MCDF for cross-posting project proposals under the GMS Regional Investment Framework on MCDF’s JIGSAW platform and appreciated the strong cooperation between the GMS Secretariat and MCDF in information and knowledge sharing. Mr. Konishi added that eight MCDF grants totaling USD5.5 million are supporting connectivity project preparation and capacity building in the GMS region, which are expected to leverage USD602 million in investment. This includes concept development support for mainland and maritime parts of the ASEAN Power Grid, which was approved on 25 November and is covered by MCDF’s grant for the ASEAN-Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank joint three-year program supporting infrastructure connectivity in the ASEAN region.

“Innovation and strengthening knowledge partnerships are clear priorities for the GMS region and MCDF looks forward to stepping up our collaboration with the GMS Program in this regard,” Mr. Konishi said.