GECF: Successful Algiers Summit wraps up

The 7th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) wrapped up Saturday under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune with the adoption of the “Algiers Declaration” that crowned this global event successful in terms of its results and the robust participation which marked it.

In the Algiers Statement adopted unanimously by the participants in the Summit, held at the Abdelatif-Rahal International Conference Centre (CIC), the GECF members expressed their determination to boost cooperation and ensure effective and reliable natural gas supply, and expand its use for sustainable development and mitigating climate change.

The signatories also called for timely investment in market stability and "non-discriminatory" access to technology and knowledge transfer.

They also agreed to strengthen the GECF's standing by consolidating its international presence, attracting new members, encouraging partnerships, facilitating dialogue between producers and consumers, and boosting cooperation with relevant international organizations and bodies.

GECF’s members have also committed to strengthening the role of the forum as a leading platform for dialogue and cooperation on natural gas affairs, in addition to benefiting from the GECF Gas Research Institute, GRI, based in Algiers, to broaden cooperation, especially in natural gas technologies, research and strengthening innovation capacities.

At the end of the Summit's works, the President of the Republic told the press that this event was "successful thanks to a broad participation," describing the Algiers Declaration as "an important step to meet current and future challenges," reflecting the determination of the forum's members "to expand the use of gas with the required competence and sustainability in a world marked by accelerated change."

The President of the Republic highlighted the GECF members' commitment to reinforce the Forum's standing as a platform for regional and international dialogue and cooperation, which is currently attracting new members while insisting on "the sovereign rights of member countries over their gas resources."

On this occasion, he highlighted “the Forum’s leading role in backing sustainable development and global energy security in line with the United Nations (UN) Objectives.”

For their part, the Heads of State who participated in the Summit’s works emphasized Algeria’s role in ensuring the stability of global energy markets, by bringing the views of the Forum’s countries closer together, while urging enhanced cooperation to meet the challenges of the energy sector given international geopolitical shifts.

They further affirmed the willingness of the Forum members to independently plan the exploitation of their energy resources such as gas for their sustainable development, along with their commitment to achieving the Forum’s strategic objectives.