As mentioned in the ADB Asia-Pacific Energy Outlook 2013, energy efficiency and conservation is a means of enhancing energy supply security, especially for countries facing limited resources. It is affected by various factors, including industry structure, technology, lifestyle and climate conditions. In addition, energy prices as well as access to infrastructure can also affect energy intensity. Energy efficiency is positively correlated with economic competitiveness. Thus, economic development in countries such as Armenia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are hampered by energy usage inefficiencies (figure 10.21). Implementation of the framework agreements on trade in services, trade facilitation and investment will promote intraregional investment flows as well as establish backward-forward linkages between industries and a regional supply chain.