Maksat Babayev, State Minister of Turkmenistan and Chairman of the State Concern Türkmengaz, participated in the plenary session of the 8th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum member states. The international meeting was held at the World Trade Center in Moscow.

The summit, chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was attended by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, President of Mozambique Daniel Chapo, President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, and Chairman of Libya’s Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi.

The Gas Exporting Countries Forum is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting international cooperation in the gas sector, facilitating the exchange of experience, assessing the global gas market and analyzing its development prospects. Its members include Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

The forum was established 25 years ago as an analytical platform for gas market experts to exchange views, examine industry trends and forecast future developments. Since then, its key objectives have included promoting open dialogue among participating countries, sharing market-related information and jointly assessing factors affecting the development of the gas industry.

The forum’s importance is also reflected in the position its member states hold in the global gas market. These countries account for approximately 70 percent of the world’s natural gas reserves and nearly 40 percent of natural gas exports.

Turkmenistan’s participation in the summit provides an important opportunity to discuss international cooperation in the gas sector, examine trends in the global energy market and contribute to the development of cooperation in the gas industry.