Complemented by the lack of harmonized standards, this misalignment at the regional level mostly leads to the inefficiency of investments beyond particular groupings. The current relative institutional insufficiency partially reflects on countries' resistance to approach compliance with collective decisions beyond sovereignty (Kong and Ku, 2015). Synergy between subnational experience and expertise may thus be realized, while the scope for energy agenda may be extended through incorporation of common values, such as sustainable energy development principles. As the global community embarks on a sustainable development pledge and international governance embraces a more compliance-oriented and rules-based approach, a cooperative framework would generate greater trust among the countries in, and create opportunities for, regional energy planning.