HE Eng. Mohamed Hamel, the Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), today met HE Ridwan Hassan, the Ambassador of Indonesia to the State of Qatar, and commended the importance Indonesia attaches to the work and mission of the GECF.
In a visit to the Indonesian Embassy in Doha, HE Hamel noted the positive developments witnessed between the GECF and Indonesia, which was involved in the GECF at its foundational stage and has remained directly engaged or on the periphery of the Forum since then.
The Secretary General invited Indonesia to officially join the Forum, especially as the GECF embarks on another decade of its operations, and as natural gas becomes the most sought-after fuel in the world.
HE Hamel emphasised that the Forum stands to gain from Indonesia’s pioneering spirit, which is hailed as a historic leader in such areas of natural gas business as liquefied natural gas (LNG), upstream, and production sharing contract. He also underlined the positive role of Indonesia in United Nations climate change discussions, describing the outcome of COP13 held in Bali, Indonesia in 2007, as the first step towards the Paris Agreement.
Welcoming the call of HE Hamel, HE Hassan highlighted that the current Indonesian government prioritises natural gas and is putting significant efforts in shaping the energy future, both domestically as well as internationally.
In 2022, the G20 Presidency has moved to Indonesia. As one of the largest tropical forest country, the discussion on the interplay of energy and climate is expected to reach a new crescendo in Indonesia later this year.
Meanwhile, the country’s prominent role as a backdrop to important global dialogues also came under the discussion. Jakarta serves as the home of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), a partner organisation of the GECF. It also hosts the ASEAN Secretariat.
Giving an update to the esteemed diplomat, HE Hamel apprised HE Hassan of the final arrangements of the 6th GECF Summit of Heads of State and Government, being held in Doha, Qatar on 22 February 2022.