The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) held its 44th Executive Board Meeting on 6-7 March at the Secretariat in Doha, Qatar.
The inaugural Executive Board (EB) meeting of 2023 welcomed the participation of all member countries of the GECF: Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, UAE, and Venezuela. From the Observers, Iraq and Mozambique joined the proceedings.
The 44th EB meeting was presided over by Mr Dmitry Semyonov, Executive Board member from Russia. The Chairperson acknowledged the work of his predecessor, Ms Penelope Bradshaw-Niles from Trinidad and Tobago, for her leadership of the board in 2022. In anticipation of a busy year ahead, Mr Semyonov remarked: “As we embark upon a new year culminating in a Ministerial Meeting and eventually the Summit, our duties assume a heightened level of significance.”
Echoing the remarks about the expectation from the GECF as progressive organisation, HE Eng. Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General commented: “The world around us is changing very fast, and our response to these changing dynamics – from our human capital to membership expansion to research work – will distinguish us from others and place us on the path to success.”
HE Hamel congratulated the UAE for upgrading its status to full membership starting from January 2023, as well as to Mozambique for its first-ever LNG shipment in November 2022. The Secretary General then presented the traditional management report. This presentation covered the period from the start of his tenure in January 2022.
During the meeting, the EB discussed key issues such as budget allocation and project timelines. In addition, several decisions were made regarding upcoming events, including the annual Ministerial Meeting and the biennial Summit of Heads of State and Government.
It also took into account audit reports, new membership applications, revised job descriptions and new vacancies, an information security charter, cooperation with peer organisations, and other administrative matters. The EB received progress reports on GECF’s flagship publications.
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 Programme 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.