1. The Mississippi/Mekong Partnership

3. The Mekong River looking toward Laos

4. Initiated in 2003 with the support of USAID and CSG To facilitate the planning and implementation of a Mekong River BDP In partnership with the Mekong River Commission (MRC) MRC member countries: Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand China and Myanmar are official observers The Mississippi/Mekong Partnership

5. Mekong River Commission at Vientiane, Lao PDR

6. US Partners University of Minnesota Water Resources Center The Mississippi River Basin Alliance The Mississippi River Institute for Global Cooperation

7. The Mekong River Basin is Rapidly Developing Need for Economic Growth Need for Education Need for Energy Need for Technology Need for Resource Management Tools and Systems

8. Water Resource Issues Public Health and Safe Drinking Water Fisheries (inland fisheries for Laos) Water Utilization Hydropower Development Agriculture Navigation and Flood Management

9. Opportunities for Trade Between Minnesota and Laos Minnesota’s Hmong Community (and other Asian communities) Minnesota’s Business Community The University of Minnesota Minnesota’s NGO Community

10. A Changing World

11. KOP JAI