Overview of GTI Projects

At the 9th meeting of the GTI Consultative Commission, the GTI member countries decided to deepen cooperation in the real sector of economy. A number of concrete projects in the key sectors of economy were identified as “GTI projects” for further elaboration, resource mobilization and partnership building to be implemented in the following years. GTI projects shall promote the economic development and cooperation in the Greater Tumen Region and the Northeast Asia. It was agreed that the GTI projects would complement bilateral negotiations on regional cooperation. The Tumen Secretariat was tasked to promote these projects and to identify potential investors and donors for their funding.

GTI projects, approved at the 9th CC meeting, are below:
 
• Transport
1) NEA Ferry Route Border Infrastructure Framework
2) Modernization of Zarubino Port
3) Mongolia-China Railway Construction
4) Resuming Hunchun-Makhalino railway
5) China Road, Harbor Project in the border between China and DPRK

• Energy
6) Capacity Building on GTI Energy at regional level

• Tourism
7) Capacity Building on GTI Tourism at regional level

• Investment
8) Training Program for Officials from GTI Member countries

• Environment
9) GTI Environmental Cooperation: focusing on Trans-boundary Environmental Impact Assessment (TEIA) in GTR and Environmental Standardization in the Northeast Asia
10) Feasibility Study on Tumen River Water Protection

In the period, passed after the 9th CC meeting, the Tumen Secretariat has undertaken a regular work on promotion of the agreed projects. The key persons for each project were contacted and the information on the project’ status updated. The main problems and further steps have been identified and concrete actions, needed for successful evaluation of these projects, have been undertaken.

The Tumen Secretariat was also promoting and advertising these projects through various tools such as presentations, website and publications. During the 2nd BAC meeting, held in Shanghai, China on 24th March 2008, a presentation on the GTI projects was made by the director of Tumen Secretariat. The members of BAC showed their interest and willingness to expand their operations in the region.

With the aim of further implementation of these projects, the Tumen Secretariat was working on identifying funding resources and potential investors and donors. A number of meetings with potential investors were held in the meantime.

More active role of the member countries will be essential for successful development of the projects. The role of regional authorities and local governments of GTI member countries in promotion of transborder projects shall be increased.