President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi described as "special" the geographical location of the Eastern Mediterranean region in light of the recent gas discoveries made over the past few years, which he said open up prospects of energy cooperation among the region's countries. President Sisi made the remarks as he received the heads of delegations participating in the second ministerial meeting of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) at the Montazah Palace in Alexandria, presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said on Thursday. During the meeting, President Sisi asserted the importance of the EMGF in activating and coordinating policies of its member states with the aim of developing the regional gas market in the Eastern Mediterranean region. In this regard, the president pointed out to the possibility of benefiting from gas resources in the area with a view to establish a regional and international integrated energy hub. Launching the forum delivers a message to the international community and world companies that there are serious endeavors to make use of the region's natural gas resources and its infrastructure in a way that serves the region's countries, Sisi said. Meanwhile, the ministers affirmed the strategic importance of Egypt's initiative to establish the EMGF, lauding the country's effective efforts under the leadership of President Sisi. They cited Cairo's launching of a regular dialogue on natural gas in a way that helps the Eastern Mediterranean countries outline policies that aim at drafting a joint vision on the future of the region's gas reserves.
