The two days conference began on Monday, February 7, and will center on the theme of ‘Experience and Innovations for Integrated Renewables Market.’
In the High-level Conference on Renewable Energy, R.K.Singh, Union Power, and New & Renewable Energy Minister said that India and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) could develop an entirely renewable energy ecosystem.
The virtual conference was organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India.
What is ASEAN?
ASEAN stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations, consisting of ten member states – Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. It was established in 1976 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The organization is seen by many as a global powerhouse. The primary objective of ASEAN is to promote economic growth through social and cultural development and intergovernmental cooperation between its members. Moreover, ASEAN conducts various diplomatic missions and handles innumerable international affairs worldwide.
H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, from Brunei Darussalam, has been the Secretary-General of ASEAN since 2018, and the head office is located in Jakarta, Indonesia.
India became a sectoral dialogue partner in 1992 and became a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1996. Also, India signed a Free Trade Assessment (FTA) with ASEAN Thailand in 2009.
The fundamental principles of the organization are focused on peaceful resolution of any dispute among the member states, non-interference in any internal matters leading to a free existence by each member state, and mutual respect and cooperation between the ASEAN nations.
About the conference
The two-day conference was virtual, and the high-level dignitaries from the member states were graciously welcomed at the inaugural session by the Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of India.
The current chair of ASEAN, Tun Lean, Secretary of State, Ministry of Mines and Energy of Cambodia and MNRE and fertilizers of India, Bhagwanth Khuba, also delivered speeches, highlighting the success of India and ASEAN on renewable energy.
They also insisted on the need for cooperation between the two to combat climate change through further progress in the renewable energy field. R.K.Singh delivered the keynote speech and insisted that the alliance would promote knowledge sharing, capacity building, and technical assistance.
He praised the ASEAN organization for the development of its power grid. He added that he hopes the grid will be expanded to the Indian sub-continent under the’ One Sun-One Worl-One Grid’ initiative.
He also congratulated Indonesia on hosting the G20 presidency in October 2022 and revealed that India would work closely with the nation in the process of the global energy transition.
The minister also restated and reconfirmed India’s dedication to working with ASEAN “to establish a strong relationship in the renewables sector as the nation enters the 30th year of partnership with the organization.
All the energy ministers and high-level officials from the member states, in their speeches, talked about the progress made and priority areas for their countries concerning renewable energy. They also stated their ambitions regarding renewable energy.
They agreed that the increasing threat to the climate calls for the need for an accelerated transition to renewables to build a sustainable future. The necessity of further reinforcing the ASEAN-India cooperation was also highlighted on the first day of the conference.
The Director-General of International Solar Association (ISA) also addressed the attendees with visions and plans of the association and further pointed out the benefits of the ASEAN on joining ISA.
The conference will hold five technical sessions, including peer-to-peer discussions between India and ASEAN energy experts. The session also offers a peek into the India-ASEAN future plans for renewable energy to audiences from around the globe, including students, professionals, and policymakers.
Published By – Vanshu Mehra
