We know from our own experience in India and from our regular contacts with Indian authorities the enormity of national undertakings to modernise the national energy structure. This is not only an issue of management of this sector of the economy, of modernisation of India's national grid, but also of diversification of energy sources and supplies.

Indian authorities are fully engaged in tackling these issues. More active use of renewable energy sources is high on the agenda. New routes of gas supplies are being explored. New ways to attract investments into the national energy sector are being introduced.

Today energy became an issue of global importance and demands global cooperation. Only together we can manage - in the best and most efficient way - the issues, which every country is dealing with. Among them - sustainability of energy sectors, need to develop new energy infrastructure, to strengthen energy security and to decrease the energy intensity of national economies. The exchange of best practices in energy management and the creation of a favourable climate for energy investments are also tasks of great importance.

The Energy Charter is a multilateral intergovernmental organisation which stands for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of energy. It looks for "win-win' solutions based on sovereign decisions of its member states.

I am confident that the experience accumulated in our organisation over the past 20 years would be useful to India as well. We are ready to share our expertise and hope that the cooperation with Energy Charter Treaty members will contribute positively to the efforts of the Indian government in modernising its energy sector.