Vientiane, Lao PDR, 13 November 2020 — The Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat today launched an upgraded version of its website to promote transparency and increase access to Mekong related information and knowledge. 

“Our website seeks to provide open, transparent, and free access to Mekong data and information,” said Dr An Pich Hatda, MRC Secretariat Chief Executive Officer. “Access to the diverse publications and information will advance public debate, understanding and knowledge on transboundary river governance and management in the Lower Mekong region.” 

The upgraded website provides free access to more than 1,000 publications by the MRC, with some reports dating back to the early days of the Mekong Committee in 1957. These publications cover a wide range of topics, such as floods and droughts, fisheries, climate change, navigation, hydropower, agriculture, irrigation, gender, and procedures for water resources governance. 

The site also hosts a recently revamped data portal that provides a store of more than 10,000 datasets on current and historical hydrometeorological and climate time-series data, spatial maps, atlases, photographs, and sector datasets. 

In addition to integrated social media buttons for Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to foster improved communications with stakeholders, the website provides the latest news about the Commission and events that it facilitates, including consultations on development projects on the Mekong. 

Reflecting current design trends, the updated website comes with a refreshed look and feel, and improved compatibility with mobile phones and tablets. It also makes access and navigation faster and easier, providing a more user-friendly experience.

 

Note to editors: 

The Mekong River Commission is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1995 for regional dialogue and cooperation in the lower Mekong river basin. Based on the Mekong Agreement between Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, the Commission serves as a regional platform for water diplomacy as well as a knowledge hub of water resources management for the sustainable development of the region.

 

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