DUSHANBE , June 7, Asia-Plus -- On June 12-14, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will sponsor a Regional Energy Conference in Istanbul , Turkey .  The conference will bring together countries with power deficits and power surpluses to expand and integrate the power infrastructure in Central Asia and South Asia . 

According to information from the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe , the event is a part of the United States ’ Central Asian Infrastructure Integration Initiative to support economic development.  Held in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State, the conference features major near-term public infrastructure projects in the region valued at more than $8 billion.  The event will attract public and private sector participants from the United States , Central Asia and South Asia , including AES, who recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tajik Government to build transmission lines to Afghanistan .

The conference will assist Central Asian countries with power surpluses to develop the means to export electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan , which have significant power deficits. 

Senior officials from Central Asian energy and foreign affairs ministries, energy regulators, and electrical grid operating companies will participate in the two-day event. 

Representatives from The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Export-Import Bank of the United States , and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation will discuss finance and insurance programs available for projects in the Central Asia region.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries.  The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment.  USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.