Baku, The Republic of Azerbaijan, 17 June 2026 – An insightful knowledge-sharing event on “Regional Energy Interconnections for Sustainable Development” was among the key side events on the second day of the ongoing 2026 Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group in Baku, held under the theme “Regional Integration for Sustainable Prosperity.”

Attending the event were senior government officials, development partners, energy sector leaders, and technical experts who discussed how cross-border energy infrastructure can strengthen energy security, expand electricity access, support renewable energy integration, and promote sustainable economic development across IsDB Group Member Countries.

Opening the event, Mr. Orkhan Zeynalov, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, highlighted the importance of regional energy connectivity in supporting economic growth and sustainable development.

In a keynote address, Mr. Issa Faye, Director General of Global Practice and Partnerships at IsDB, emphasized that regional energy interconnections help countries optimize the use of their energy resources, improve electricity supply reliability, lower costs, support renewable energy integration, and foster stronger regional economic cooperation.

Panel discussions moderated by Mr. Idrissa Dia, Director of the Economic and Social Infrastructure Department (ESID) at IsDB, featured  H.E. Mr. Yusuf Majidi, First Deputy Minister of Finance Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Sherard Cowper-Coles, Vice President and Corporate Secretary at Asian Infrastucture Investment Bank, Mr. Siegfried Leffler, Head of Operations, GIZ International Services, Mr. Abdoulaye DIA, Secretary General of the West African Power Pool (WAPP).

The panelists shared their experiences from major initiatives such as CASA-1000, the OMVG Interconnection Project, and the Rogun Hydropower Plant, lessons on project preparation, financing, governance, risk management, and the development of commercially viable regional electricity markets.

Furthermore, participants emphasized that interconnected power systems can improve energy security, reduce costs, expand access to reliable electricity, and facilitate greater use of renewable energy.

Discussions also highlighted the importance of stronger regional cooperation and initiatives such as Mission 300 in addressing rising energy demand and supporting long-term economic transformation.

The event concluded with a call for stronger collaboration among governments, development institutions, utilities, and regulators to accelerate regional energy corridors. Key priorities identified included enhanced market integration, stronger regulatory cooperation, innovative financing mechanisms, improved risk-mitigation frameworks, and greater stakeholder coordination. The discussions reinforced IsDB’s commitment to advancing regional integration through sustainable energy infrastructure that promotes energy security, economic transformation, and shared prosperity.

Hashtag: #2026IsDBGroupAMs

Media contact: media@isdb.org

Explore the program: http://am.isdb.org/program