Vientiane, Lao PDR, 26 December 2024 – To commemorate the 20th anniversary of its establishment in Lao PDR, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) has officially inaugurated its new Education and Visitor Center. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Lao PDR, along with ministers, deputy ministers from key ministries, and ambassadors of the main donors to the Center as well as senior representatives from MRC member countries.

Located at the MRC Headquarters in Vientiane Capital, the center aims to highlight the Mekong River’s significatn role in Southeast Asia’s development and the importance of transboundary cooperation in water resource management. It also showcase the history of Mekong cooperation, the region’s challenges and opportunities in water resource development, and the MRC’s critical role in promoting and coordinating cooperation across one of the world’s most significant rivers. Through exhibitions, physical models, books, and maps, visitors can delve into the Mekong’s past, present, and future. The center also provides insights into the MRC’s milestones, the importance of the Mekong River Basin, fisheries, river monitoring technologies, and the role of water resources in regional development.

The center will host regular educational programs, offering learning sessions for academia, researchers, students, and the public to deepen knowledge of the Mekong River and the MRC’s ongoing efforts. A key highlight of the facility is the Situation Room, a centralised database and decision-support tool that enables real-time river monitoring and forecasting. This system, linked to the MRC Regional Flood and Drought Management Center in Phnom Penh, supports the organization’s initiatives in disaster management, climate adaptation, and transboundary cooperation.

Along with the center’s inauguration, the MRC Secretariat also launched the highly anticipated One Mekong App, an innovative tool delivering real-time monitoring and forecasting data to the public.

At the opening, the Prime Minister highlighted the center’s importance, stating, “Laos is proud to host the Mekong River Commission Secretariat Headquarters and now this landmark Center. This center will serve as a symbol of cooperation and knowledge among Mekong countries, partners, and stakeholders.” The Prime Minister also expressed gratitude to development partners, including Japan, Morocco, and the United States of America, for their support in establishing the Education and Visitor Center.

Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun, CEO of the MRC Secretariat, emphasised the center’s mission, remarking, “his center isn’t just the heart of the MRC’s mission. It’s a bridge. It connects data to decision-making, knowledge to action, and people to purpose. Visitors will not only see the MRC’s legacy and contributions but also witness the power of data, science and community engagement in action through our Situation Room and One Mekong App. May this worldclass facility celebrate our past and present and inspire a sense of urgency to make a difference for the future of the Mekong.”

Note to Editors:

The MRC is an intergovernmental organization established in 1995 to boost regional dialogue and cooperation in the Lower Mekong River Basin. Based on the Mekong Agreement among Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, the MRC serves as both a regional platform for water diplomacy and a knowledge hub – to manage water resources and support sustainable development of the region.

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For more information, please contact:

Ms Mao Chandaly

Communication Officer for Press
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
Email: chandaly@mrcmekong.org

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