The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is investing $1.5 million in the South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Integration Program (SARI/EI) to promote energy security through cross-border energy trade and regional electricity markets development. The SARI/E Program will bring together key regional stakeholders to discuss cross-border energy trade, including harmonization of policy/legal/regulatory matters, transmission infrastructure planning, and energy exchange/ markets issues. Through policy dialogue, institutional strengthening and energy trade programs, SARI/EI will promote more efficient energy use, growth of renewable energy development and the partial substitution of fossil fuel power in the region with hydropower. Participating countries include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.