ERIA co-organized the Mekong-Five Economic Forum - Current Status and Prospect of Advancing Frontier Markets on 3 July 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. The forum was hosted by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and held on the sidelines of the 7th Mekong-Japan Summit Meeting.

Following the opening remarks by Mr. Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman and CEO of JETRO, leaders from five Mekong countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam) delivered remarks and presentations on the investment advantages and the growth strategies of the Mekong countries.

The government leaders included: H.E. Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia; H.E. Mr. Thongsing Thammavong, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR; H.E. Mr. Thein Sein, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; H.E. Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand; and H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

Prof. Hidetoshi Nishimura, President of ERIA, in his gratitude remarks, recited a Haiku poem he wrote in 1993 while visiting the Mekong River: Night embraces Lao / Bursts of orange spread to Thailand / Bliss of the Mekong. He recited the poem to show his resolve to exert every effort for the development of the Mekong region and his appreciation for the Excellencies for giving their valuable time and contributions to the forum.

Prof. Fukunari Kimura, Chief Economist of ERIA, made a presentation titled 'Dawei and the Mekong-India Economic Corridor: A Non-conventional Approach' in the Session of Western Mekong (Dawei Session), which outlined ERIA's proposed direction and development strategy for the Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ).