Azernews.Az

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani believes that the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) can play an effective role in global decision-makings.

Addressing the 15th ministerial meeting of GECF held in Tehran on November 3, Rouhani stressed the importance of gas in development of countries, as well as expanding use of clean energy worldwide.

He also expressed hope that as the new secretary general of the forum, Iran could play an effective role in coordinating the GECF's politics and goals.

The Tehran meeting mulled GECF`s financial and administrative issues as well as budget for 2014.

The forum is a multi-layered and an intergovernmental organization of the world's leading natural gas producers comprising Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

GECF is an intergovernmental organization of 11 of the world's leading natural gas producers made up of Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. It was established in Tehran in 2001.

Kazakhstan, Iraq, the Netherlands and Norway enjoy the GECF observer status.

GECF members together control over 70 percent of the world's natural gas reserves, 38 percent of the pipeline trade and 85 percent of the liquefied natural gas production.

The three largest reserve-holders in the GECF - Russia, Iran and Qatar - together hold about 57 percent of global gas reserves.