Equatorial Guinea Hosted 14Th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum
Malabo Forum addresses global environmental challenges and encourages cooperation
MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ministers of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) came together on November 21, 2012, in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, for the 14th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.
The GECF is an international governmental organization that brings world's leading gas producers together to increase the level of coordination and strengthen the collaboration among member countries. The first GECF was held in Tehran in 2001.
Gabriel Obiang Lima, Equatorial Guinea's Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy, and other participants from gas exporting countries discussed developments in the global natural gas market and the forum's efforts to promote stable supply of natural gas to ensure the security of sustainable demand.
The forum highlighted the importance of natural gas as a green fuel and discussed the changing nature of gas-market dynamics, technologies, and renewable energy sources. The GECF also addressed global environmental challenges and encouraged member countries to cooperate with industry stakeholders to achieve the objectives of the GECF.
Twelve member countries attended the forum. In addition to host Equatorial Guinea, participants were Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, while Norway, the Netherlands and Kazakhstan were present as observers. Equatorial Guinea participated in the First Summit of Heads of State and Government of Gas-Exporting Countries, held on November 15, 2011 in the city of Doha, Qatar.
The forum was held at the new conference center in Sipopo, just outside the capital city. Sipopo has hosted events associated with the African-South American Summit. It was the host of the African-South America Forum in 2011, at which ministers of foreign affairs from 65 countries came together, and it will host the summit next year. Last year, Equatorial Guinea hosted the African Union Summit, and this year it hosted the 9th Leon H. Sullivan Summit. Sipopo will once again be the center stage for international leaders when it hosts the 7th Summit for African Caribbean and Pacific Heads of State and Government (ACP) next month.
About Equatorial Guinea
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (República de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country's oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country hosted the 2011 Summit of the African Union. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com.
SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea
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