Asia Regional Integration Center

Over the last two decades South Asia has been one of the fastest growing regions in the world, with an average annual growth rate of 6% as measured by GDP per capita. Yet despite this impressive macroeconomic growth, the energy sector in the region has not been able to keep pace, and continues to experience chronic problems of shortage of supply and poor quality of service. South Asia’s energy security dilemma is one of the signal energy development challenges of the 21st century critical to the economic future of almost 1.5 billion people and the political future of one of the world’s most volatile regions. Given this dilemma the only long-term solution is the sustained increase in regional energy cooperation among South Asian nations. South Asia Regional Initiative/Energy’s (SARI/E) role over the past decade in advocating energy cooperation in South Asia has transited to the next phase of advancing regional energy integration and Cross-Border Energy Trade in eight South Asian Countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka & Maldives). This new phase titled South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Integration (SARI/EI) is designed to build upon SARI/Energy’s successful initiatives of the past to move South Asian countries towards increased regional energy security. The program will address policy, legal, and regulatory issues related to energy in the region; promote transmissions interconnections; and work towards establishing a regional market exchange for electricity.