USAID Sponsors Seminar on Developing Regional Energy Markets
 

March 21, 2006

New Delhi – A two-day seminar on “Developing Energy Markets” funded by the U.S Agency for International Development’s South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI/E) began at the Hyatt Regency hotel here today. Several representatives from South Asian and African countries as well as from the U.S. are participating in the seminar.

Welcoming the delegates at the seminar, Mr. Robert Blake, Charge d’ Affaires, U.S. Embassy, said: “This gathering is a valuable opportunity to bring together representatives from the region to openly discuss trade and investment opportunities in energy. Increased competition and improved market structures will spur investments and trade in energy in South Asia. The United States stands ready to support efforts to boost energy markets, increase investment and strengthen trade linkages within South Asia.”

This event continues the efforts of USAID’s SARI/Energy program to promote competitive commercial practices and market structures in South Asian countries and to foster public private partnerships for regional trade and investment. The energy security of India and South Asia relies on the in-flow of such investment for the development of the energy sector.

Transparent and competitive commercial practices level the playing field for investors and will help attract the energy sector development needed to meet energy security needs. Seminar participants are to discuss developments in energy markets around the world, case studies on market structures, which enable infrastructure development and cross-border trade and national approaches to energy security within South Asia.

The USAID SARI/Energy effort works to leverage cross-border trade and investment opportunities to improve energy security in South Asia and ensure continued economic growth. The initiative will promote energy market structures to bolster national energy security. SARI/Energy aims to provide tools and training and organize peer-to-peer exchanges and executive seminars to introduce global best practices for market structures necessary for cross-border trade and investment opportunities in the South Asia region.

The Energy Markets Initiative was launched in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2005 to address key obstacles to the formation of energy markets and to support energy trade and investment in South Asia. SARI/Energy will also extend support to the SAARC Energy Center and other South Asia energy security initiatives.

USAID’s SARI/Energy operates in eight countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Begun in 2000, the program focuses on approaches to meet South Asia’s energy security needs through increased trade, investment and access to clean energy.

Related Link: Read full text of the speech