The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), the global platform of the leading gas producing countries, held on Monday, by videoconference, the fourth round of consultations of its High-Level Ad Hoc Working Group (HLAHWG).
The HLAHWG oversees the preparations for the 6th GECF Summit of Heads of State and Government, to be held in Doha, Qatar, in February 2022.
The HLAHWG Chairman, Sheikh Mishal bin Jabor Al-Thani, representing the host country – the State of Qatar – commended the valuable participation and contribution of the members in supervising a process that will deliver a memorable event.
The Group members received a warm welcome from HE Eng. Mohamed Hamel, the newly-appointed GECF Secretary General, who officially assumed his office on 1 January 2022.
In his opening remarks, HE Hamel reiterated the important role of the HLAHWG and urged members to ramp up efforts as the 6th GECF Summit approaches next month.
“There are several profound reasons the upcoming edition (of the GECF Summit) holds great importance. Coming on the heels of a series of events that may shape the future of the gas industry, as epitomised by the extreme volatility observed recently in natural gas markets, the Summit will send a message of stability and calmness to the world still reeling from the effects of the pandemic and economic slowdown,” noted GECF Secretary General.
The meeting participants – joining from Forum’s Member Countries of Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela – reviewed the array of events of the 6th GECF Summit, including the launch of the 6th GECF Global Gas Outlook 2050, the 3rd GECF International Gas Seminar, the newly-constituted GECF Awards, the Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting, as well as the Summit with the attendance of Heads of State and Government of the GECF Member Countries.
The Summit is the Forum’s flagship event. It takes place on the level of Heads of State and Government every two years. Previous Summits were held in Doha, the State of Qatar (2011); Moscow, Russian Federation (2013); Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran (2015); Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Plurinational State of Bolivia (2017); and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (2019).
The State of Qatar, following a goodwill initiative by the country’s leadership, announced its intention to host the marque event at the 21st GECF Ministerial Meeting in Moscow in 2019. The country is a world-class events and conference destination. It is also home to the permanent Secretariat of the GECF.