Background
The Mekong–Republic of Korea (Mekong–ROK) partnership has evolved significantly since the inaugural Mekong–ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2011, expanding across economic, social, environmental, technological and human-resource development priorities.
The Mekong–ROK Cooperation Fund (MKCF) has played an important role in translating this partnership into practical development initiatives across the Mekong subregion. Since 2013, 78 projects have been implemented under the Mekong–ROK cooperation framework across seven priority areas, with the Republic of Korea contributing more than USD 40 million to the MKCF between 2013 and 2025.
The next phase of Mekong–ROK cooperation, guided by the Mekong–ROK Plan of Action 2026–2030, takes place amid rapid regional and global changes, including digital transformation and artificial intelligence, climate change, the green transition, demographic changes, evolving economic and geopolitical dynamics, and growing demand for innovative financing and stronger regional connectivity.
The Mekong–ROK Cooperation Forum 2026 will provide a platform to reflect on achievements and lessons, showcase results, facilitate policy dialogue, connect projects with financing opportunities, and identify new areas of cooperation towards 2030.
Objectives
The Forum will:
- Reflect on the achievements and lessons of Mekong–ROK cooperation and its contribution to regional development and integration.
- Highlight achievements, results and lessons from Mekong–ROK cooperation projects, including the contribution of the MKCF.
- Examine the sustainability and scalability of Mekong–ROK projects and identify opportunities for successful initiatives to move beyond pilot and project-based interventions.
- Promote innovative financing and investment partnerships to support the scaling and replication of successful initiatives.
- Facilitate policy discussion on the future direction of Mekong–ROK cooperation and priorities under the 2026–2030 Plan of Action.
- Connect projects with potential financiers, investors, technical partners and service providers.
- Generate practical recommendations and partnerships for strengthening Mekong–ROK cooperation towards 2030.
Forum Approach
The Forum is designed around a simple progression:
- From achievements to lessons — drawing on evidence from the 2021–2025 Plan of Action and MKCF-supported projects;
- From lessons to partnerships — bringing government, the private sector, academia and development partners into practical dialogue on sustainability and impact;
- From partnerships to action — translating recommendations into sector-specific pathways for scaling, replication, co-financing and regional cooperation;
- From projects to impact — strengthening the conditions that enable successful initiatives to become sustainable, replicable and regionally relevant.
- This approach responds to the evolving needs of Mekong–ROK cooperation by combining strategic reflection with practical discussion on implementation, sustainability and impact.
Expected Outcomes
The Forum is expected to contribute to:
- Shared strategic priorities for Mekong–ROK cooperation.
- Practical recommendations for the new Plan of Action and MKCF.
- Opportunities for scaling projects and strengthening regional coordination.
- New partnerships and financing opportunities to support sustainable and replicable development initiatives across the Mekong subregion.
