As countries accelerate renewable energy deployment and electrification, strengthening electricity grids and expanding regional interconnection are increasingly recognised as critical for economic and energy security. Cross-border electricity trade can reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports, enable electricity to flow across borders where and when it is needed, and support system stability by balancing supply and demand across markets. However, delivering regional interconnection requires overcoming pressing political, regulatory, financial and operational challenges.

Latin America and Southeast Asia host two of the world’s most important developing regional interconnection efforts: the Central American Electrical Interconnection System (SIEPAC) and the ASEAN
Power Grid. While their geographies may differ, both regions offer practical lessons on building political trust, developing cross-border electricity markets, and mobilising investment.
This high-level panel will bring together energy ministers, regional institutions, multilateral development banks, utilities and industry representatives from both regions to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and
identify practical solutions to common implementation challenges. The discussion will focus on governance, market rules, financing and operational delivery, with the aim of identifying concrete next
steps for continued structured knowledge exchange between Latin America and Southeast Asia.