The Mekong River Basin Vision embodies a balance between economic development, social justice and environmental integrity, with climate resilience a cross-cutting focus. All dimensions are equally important to achieving the sustainable development, utilisation, and conservation of the basin’s water and water-related resources.

Economically Prosperous The Basin is one with substantially higher GDP and higher incomes for the people that live there. Inclusive economic growth is driven by the continued shift to industrial and service sector led economies, creating opportunities for all groups and helping eradicate poverty. Agriculture is more productive and globally competitive with an emphasis on higher value and green produce, using improved technology. Navigation enables people and bulk goods to move long distances cheaply, safely and environmentally friendly. Energy generation from hydropower and other renewable sources provides low-carbon, reliable and affordable electricity for all. New economic potential is realised in nature-based tourism, leveraging the basin’s unique environment and culture.

Socially Just The Basin is one where the benefits of water resource development are shared with the people impacted by those developments, in order that sustainable livelihoods for all people are possible. There is less direct dependence on water-related resources as people previously in vulnerable situations have opportunities to earn higher incomes in other sectors and increase their standard of living. The Basin is food, water and energy secure and economic growth is inclusive. Men and women have equal opportunity to realise their full potential through access to and control of economic resources.