Review of Configuration of

GMS Economic Corridors

8th GMS Economic Corridors Forum

4 August 2016 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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Scope of Presentation
GMS economic corridors
Present configuration
Assessment of present configuration
Proposed extension/realignment
Other recommendations

GMS Economic Corridors

EWEC, NSEC and SEC designated as flagship programs under

the GMS Strategic Framework 2002-2012

Central role of economic corridors continued under the GMS

Strategic Framework 2012-2022.

Efforts to improve physical connectivity, facilitate crossborder movement of people goods and vehicles, develop
border and corridor towns, and promote investment largely
focused on EWEC, NSEC and SEC.

Present Configuration of GMS

Economic Corridors

Has undergone changes since 1998.

Current configuration based on

Strategies and Action Plans for EWEC and NSEC endorsed at

15th MC in 2009
Strategy and Action Plan for SEC endorsed at 16th MC in 2010
Addition of Dawei to SEC endorsed at 17th MC in 2011

EWEC

EWEC + NSEC

EWEC + NSEC + SEC

Thank you.

Criteria for Designation as Economic

Corridor
Have greatest potential to become foreign trade,
transit, investment and tourism corridors
Have significant sections that can be developed
into hubs for regional trade, investment and
tourism.

Extension and/or Realignment

Primary Considerations
Developments following opening up of Myanmar taken into account.
Corridors include and link all GMS capitals and major economic
centers.
Corridors are connected to major maritime gateways and industrial
hubs.
Major trade flows are reflected in the alignment of the economic
corridors.

Extension and/or Realignment

Major gaps in present configuration:

Relatively limited coverage in Myanmar and Lao PDR.

Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw and Vientiane not included in any economic
corridor.
Yangon port not linked to any economic corridor.
Principal cross border trade routes not reflected PRC-Myanmar
Myanmar-Thailand
PRC-Lao PDR-Thailand

Include an extension to Yangon/Thilawa at the

western end of EWEC with possible extension to Pathein

NSEC: Include the Kunming-Dali-Ruili-Mandalay-Nay

Pyi Taw-Yangon route

NSEC: Add an extension to link Mandalay to Tamu

NSEC: Add
BotenVientianeLaem Chabang

Overlap with Southern Economic Corridor

NSEC: Include BangkokHanoi link through

Nakhom PhanomThakhek

NSEC: Include a link between Vientiane and Hanoi with

an extension to Vung Anh

Renaming GMS Economic Corridors

Some corridors refer to the same routes but are called differently. For
example:
North-South Corridor in TSS = Western Subcorridor of NSEC

Southern Corridor in TSS = Central and Northern Subcorridors of SEC

Central Corridor in TSS = Part of Intercorridor Link of SEC

For clarity, consider using the main nodal points along the corridor routes
with an acronym that retains EWEC, NSEC and SEC.

Proposed Changes in the Names of GMS

Economic Corridors
Present Name

Proposed Name

North-South Economic Corridor (NSEC)

Western Subcorridor
No equivalent; not included in NSEC.
Central Subcorridor

Eastern Subcorridor
No equivalent; not included in NSEC.
No equivalent; not included in NSEC.
No equivalent; not included in NSEC.
No equivalent, not included in NSEC.

Kunming-Chiang Rai-Bangkok via Lao PDR or

Myanmar Corridor (NSEC 1)
Kunming- Boten-Oudoxay-Luangprabang-Vang
Vieng-Vientiane-Nong Khai-Udon Thani-Nakhon
Ratchasima-Laem Chabang Corridor (NSEC 2)
Kunming-Hanoi-Haiphong Corridor (NSEC 3)

Nanning-Hanoi Corridor (NSEC 4)

Kunming-Muse-Mandalay-Yangon-Thilawa Corridor
(NSEC 5)
Mandalay-Tamu Corridor (NSEC 6)
Laem Chabang -Bangkok-Nakhon RatchasimaUdon Thani-Nakhon Phanom-Takhek-Na PhaoVuong Ang-Hanoi Corridor (NSEC 7)
Vientiane-Paksan-Vinh-Hanoi Corridor (NSEC 8)

Proposed Changes in the Names of GMS

Economic Corridors
Present Name

Proposed Name

East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC)

East-West Economic Corridor

East-West Economic Corridor

Southern Economic Corridor (SEC)

Central Subcorridor
Northern Subcorridor
Southern Coastal Subcorridor
Intercorridor Link

Dawei-Bangkok-Phnom Penh-HCMC-Vung Tau

Corridor (SEC 1)
Bangkok-Siem Reap-Stung Treng-Pleiku-Quy Nhon
Corridor (SEC 2)
Bangkok-Trat-Kampot-Ha Tien-Nam Can Corridor
(SEC 3)
Sihanoukville-Phnom Penh-Stung Treng-PakseSavannakhet Corridor (SEC 4)

Adopting Classification System

Additional routes raise issue of prioritization of

interventions.
Classification system based on level of development can
guide investment programming.
Some corridors require focus on physical connectivity.
Where physical connectivity has been achieved, emphasis
to be TTF, urban development, investment promotion

Other Recommendations

Adopting network approach

Enhancing process of economic corridor development
Accelerate CBTA/TTF implementation
Develop feeder roads and national networks linked to
economic corridors
Intensify programs to expand employment along and
around economic corridors

Thank you.

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