Phnom Penh: The MRC Secretariat has organized the 29th Meeting of the EGEM on the Funding Application and Management Plans for Environmental Assets with Regional Importance, Chaired by His Excellency Mr. Kol Vathana, Deputy Secretary General of the Cambodia National Mekong Committee (CNMC) and Co-chaired by Mr. Hak Socheat, Director of the Environment Division of the MRC Secretariat. The participants of the Meeting are the EGEM from the four MRC Member countries, MRC Secretariat Staff, observers from GIZ, SEI, UNEP, World Bank, ADB, IUCN, CI, WWF, FFI, UNDP, FAO, and the International Consultant.

The EGEM from Cambodia leaded by His Excellency Mr. Kol Vathana, Deputy Secretary General of CNMC and participated by the representative from the Department of Terrestrial Protected Area Conservation, East of Mekong River, and Fresh Water Wetlands Conservation Department, GEF Focal Point, and GCF Focal Point of MoE; Representative of Fisheries Administration, and Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute of MAFF; representative of the TSA; and CNMC General Secretariat Staff.

The Objective of the Meeting are to present, discuss, and obtain guidance and advice on:

1. the overall approach to resource mobilization for the PBAP projects and other cooperation projects relevant to achieving the objectives of the BDS, SBEM, MASAP, and NIPs; and

2. the proposed approach and methodology for preparing new or updated management plans for priority environmental assets with regional importance (Project 4 of the PBAP).

The Meeting had reviewed and discussed on the two main draft documents, namely

- Draft concept note on a regional cooperation programme to support the implementation of Basin Development Strategy 2021-2030;

- Draft Guidance, Methodology, and Template for developing the Management Plans of the Environmental Assets with regional importance; and also discussed on

- The next step.