YANGON, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar has stressed the energy sufficiency as the priority work of member countries of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sector Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Myanmar's Ministry of Electricity and Energy Friday.

Myanmar's Minister of Electricity and Energy U Win Khaing highlighted the priority work at an expert subregional group meeting which kicked off in the capital city Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday.

The meeting outlined expanding the energy trading sector as the first step.

The BIMSTEC is comprised of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Noting that Myanmar is leading the energy sector under the BIMSTEC program, U Win Khaing urged correct management of natural resources, saying that it is time to replace the usage of limited energy resources with renewable energy.

He called for raising power sufficiency via mutual cooperation among member countries, increasing connectivity and unification and controlling the usage and sharing of natural resources to acquire electricity.

The Myanmar government laid down strategies and work process for Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (2018-2030) in accordance with the United Nations Framework on Sustainable Development Goals.

The two-day BIMSTEC expert group meeting would continue on Friday.