On 26 - 27 February 2025, the School of Social Innovation at Mae Fah Luang University, in collaboration with the Institute of Developing Economies-Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO), organised “The 5th Mekong Dialogue" under the theme “Stakeholder Engagement and Governance: Lessons from the 2024 Flood and Beyond" at Pradudeang 2 Room, General Sampao Chusri (E4) Building, Mae Fah Luang University. The event was presided over by Assoc. Prof. Dr.Darunee Wattanasiriwech, Vice President of Mae Fah Luang University, and was attended by over 120 participants.
Led by Asst. Prof. Pathompong Manohan, Associate Dean of the School of Social Innovation, this event aimed to provide a platform for exchanging ideas, knowledge, and experiences on stakeholder engagement and governance, with a specific focus on lessons from the 2024 flood disaster and the impact of the Mekong River on countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). The in-depth discussions on sustainable development, regional cooperation, and emerging challenges incorporated perspectives from the public sector, private sector, and local institutions.
The event included a keynote speech by Mr. Warayut Komboon, Mae Sai District Chief, on “National-Local Synergy in Flood Management: Lessons from the 2024 Flood Response in Northern Thailand”; plenary sessions on reviewing recent flash floods in Thailand, flash floods and disasters in riparian countries, and international experiences in resources/disaster management; and a brainstorming session for further collaboration.
The plenary sessions brought together experts from various organisations, including Mr. Niwat Roykaew, Director of the Mekong School; Mr. Somkiat Khuanchiangsa, President of the Living River Association; Mr. Kanchit Chumpoodaeng, Director of the Chiang Rai Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office; Dr. Chheng Kimlong; Mr. Daovone Phonemanichane; Dr. Nguyen Minh Quang; Prof. Dr. Lee Lai To; Ms. Naomi Hatsukano; Dr. Zhifei Li; Dr. Kenji Nagata; Dr. Kenji Otsuka; Mr. James Borton; Mr. Khaled Mashfiq; Mr. Shreehari Acharya; and Ms. Maki Aoki Okabe.
Moreover, the brainstorming session focused on exploring future collaboration among countries in the Mekong River Basin. The goal is to establish an international cooperation network for disaster management and resource management in the Mekong region, which will be highly beneficial for preparedness and response to potential future disasters.
Overall, this event served as a crucial platform for exchanging ideas, knowledge, and experiences on stakeholder engagement and governance, with a particular focus on lessons learned from the 2024 flood disaster. These insights will contribute to the development of a sustainable framework for international cooperation within the Mekong River Basin.
