A series of meetings that are set to prepare the establishment of East Med Gas Forum will start today in Cairo, Al-Ahram reported.

Energy ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Cyprus, Greece, and Italy are set to attend, alongside a representative from the European Commission for Climate Action and Energy to establish an intergovernmental regional gas market, and designate Cairo as the incipient organization’s headquarters.

Representatives of the seven countries will discuss the agenda of the forum and the topics to be presented to ministers.

According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, hosting the forum confirms Egypt’s effective role as a major player in the establishment of a natural gas hub in the Mediterranean region.

The first gas forum meeting took place in January, when the participants agreed to establish an intergovernmental regional gas market.