ERIA and ASEAN Secretariat co-organized the 1^st East Asia Summit (EAS) Energy Efficiency Conference together with Lao PDR as the host on 24 August 2011 in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

The Conference was attended by more than 200 participants from government, research institutes, international organizations, academia, and business sectors. The conference was the first major forum organized in the context of EAS Energy Ministers' Meeting.

The Conference started with the welcome remarks given by Mr. Soulivong DARAVONG, Minister of Energy and Mines, Lao PDR. The Conference provided energy outlook based on various data and projections, and identified key political measures. Furthermore, mid-term report of the Energy Efficiency Road Map Formulation Project being conducted by ERIA was presented. The project, upon its completion next year, is expected to help Lao PDR to establish its energy efficiency goals and action plans.

With recognition of the importance of the promotion of energy efficiency in the region, the continuation of the conference was suggested and supported by the participants. ERIA offered to continue to be an organizer of the future conference together with ASEAN Secretariat and an interested host country. Also, ERIA expressed the readiness to strengthen its efforts to provide instruments and expertise to further improve the energy efficiency in many aspects and thus contribute to the sustainable economic development of the region.

In his closing remark, Mr. Hidetoshi NISHIMURA, Executive Director of ERIA, introduced the report of the Conference and said that it will be presented to the 5^th EAS Energy Ministers' Meeting in September 2011 in Brunei.

Press Release_Energy Efficiency Conference.pdf