A conference on the future of the Mekong region heard Monday that the management of food, water and energy resources will be the most critical developmental challenge in the next decade.

Stephen Groff, vice president of the Asian Development Bank, told the Greater Mekong Subregion conference that the challenge is to increase efficiencies in resource use while safeguarding environmental quality and creating jobs.

During the two-day conference, which opened in Bangkok Monday, policy-makers from Cambodia, China, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam will meet with development partners, academics and private sector representatives to consider how best to balance economic growth and environmental sustainability.