State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that a sustainable energy supply is essential for sustainable development.
To ensure access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy, the field of cooperation needs to be expanded.
The state minister made the remarks while addressing the third Energy Ministers’ Meeting of BIMSTEC on Wednesday online.
Nasrul Hamid said that by using the BIMSTEC platform, the member countries would be able to improve their economic and technical conditions, overcome the existing challenges and turn the challenges into opportunities.
“Bangladesh is importing electricity from India. Besides, the process of importing hydropower from Nepal is almost final, and a memorandum of understanding for importing hydropower from Bhutan is in the process of being signed. Bangladesh has always valued regional and sub-regional cooperation,” he added.
He said BIMSTEC was growing in importance with combined GDP growth, economic strength, socio- economic and geographical conditions and demographic dividends.
The State Minister said, “some regions of the world have been able to achieve their economic development through win-win cooperation and mutual respect. We too will be able to overcome the natural disasters, poverty and other challenges of the region through regional cooperation. That is why we have to work together to turn challenges into opportunities.”
He said “BIMSTEC has created a link between South Asia and Southeast Asia. We can establish a peaceful and prosperous Bay of Bengal through development through proper use of natural and human resources.”
The third meeting of BIMSTEC Energy Ministerial level discussed BIMSTEC grid interconnection master plan with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank, power transmission, exchange and pricing, planning for energy cooperation, setting up of BIMSTEC power plant etc.
Pampha Bhusal, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation of Nepal presided over the program. BIMSTEC Secretary General Tenzin Lakefill presented a report on progress and achievements in the power and energy sectors.
Among others, Dashu Karma Shering, Secretary, Department of Economic Relations of Bhutan, RK Singh, Minister of Power of India, Ye Aung Than, Minister of Power and Energy of Myanmar and Wasantha Perera, Secretary of Power of Sri Lanka, Kulit Sombatsiri, Secretary of the Ministry of Energy of Thailand also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, on April 19, the 5th meeting of BIMSTEC's senior energy officials was held virtually.
