Project Steering committee Meeting II
First Expert Group Meeting
Inception Workshop
Second Expert Group Meeting
Technical Workshop
National Workshop I
National Workshop II
Final Workshop

Technical Workshop
The Technical Workshop was organized by UNEP RRC.AP with the support from ADB during 17-19 May 2004 at Amari Watergate Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. There were 28 participants (4 from ADB, 5 national coordinators, 1 national focal point and 1 observer, 10 domestic consultants, 3 international consultants, 3 UNEP RRC.AP GMS Group, and 1 from IGES). The objectives of the workshop are:

(1) To elaborate the Project Implementation Protocol,
(2) To discuss the key environmental indicators and their database design, the gap analysis procedure, and the environmental performance assessment method, and
(3) To develop a common and sound understanding of the project among the newly recruited domestic consultants and the rest of the project team from every GMS countries

1. The workshop presentation and discussion can be summarized as follows:
   1. Dr. Monthip Tabucanon, national focal point of Thailand mentioned in her opening address that the environmental performance assessment system to be developed at both national and subregional levels have to be ensured that stakeholders participation exists in the system. In addition, clear guidance has to be given in term of system sustainability.
2. The project secretariat and all three international consultants presented and discussed with all national teams on project implementation work plan and protocol, method of indicator selection according to the policy concerns agreed at the second expert group meeting, fact sheet preparation and database design, and guideline on gap analysis and environmental performance assessment development.
3. Dr. Herath Gunatilake, the replacement of Mr. Dingding Tang, and Mr. Masami Tsuji emphasized that there could be some flexibility during the project implementation but the deadline of December 2005 is not flexible and stressed that this SEF II has to have linkages with SEMIS I, SEMIS II, and SEF I. Dr. Peter King offered himself as a resource person of the project and explained about indicators development in past projects and AEO 2005 whereas Mr. Mark Kasman mentioned about the linkage between SEF II and NSDS project.
4. The national teams from Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, and Lao PDR expressed their appreciation to the output gained from the workshop and also expressed their willingness to effectively work on national level activity beginning firstly with indicator selection and gap analysis as guided. The teams committed to submit to the secretariat their choices of indicators by mid June.