The 47th Executive Board (EB) Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) was held on 23-24 April 2024 in Doha, Qatar. The meeting was presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, Sheikh Mishal bin Jabor Al-Thani, Representative of the State of Qatar and Chairperson of the GECF Executive Board.
The inaugural Executive Board (EB) Meeting welcomed the distinguished representatives from GECF Member Countries, including Algeria, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela, along with Observer countries Iraq, Malaysia, Mozambique and Senegal, participated in the meeting.
At the outset, HE Eng. Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General of the GECF, warmly congratulated Sheikh Mishal bin Jabor Al-Thani, on his appointment as the Chairperson of the GECF Executive Board for 2024 and complimented his eminent and extensive knowledge of natural gas matters and adept diplomatic skills. He also welcomed the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the Republic of Senegal as the newest members of the GECF.
HE Secretary General and the Executive Board expressed profound gratitude to the leadership and the people of Algeria for their exceptional hospitality, meticulous organisation, and strong support in the lead-up to the 7th GECF Summit and the associated events.
The Executive Board addressed various key topics during the meeting, resulting in a series of decisions aimed at advancing cooperation and enhancing the Forum's effectiveness, budget execution, along with presentations on internal matters which outlines the way forward for the Organisation. Additional topics addressed were the GECF's active participation in COP28, UAE, and the preparations for the upcoming COP 29, in Azerbaijan, the member of the GECF.
The Executive Board is a governing body of the GECF, second only to the supreme authority vested in the Ministerial Meeting. It directs the operational affairs of the Forum, implements the decisions of the Ministerial Meetings, and considers the yearly Program of Work of the Secretariat for further approval by the Ministerial Meeting, in accordance with the GECF Statute, Long-Term Strategy, and the 5-Year Working Plan.