This is the first time the International Gas Union (IGU) addresses you directly through this newsletter by invitation of the International Energy Forum Secretariat, for which we are both grateful and honoured.

For those who do not know us, IGU is the world’s largest international forum of natural gas, currently covering 68 countries which represent over 95% of the gas traded in the world. Every triennium, its members – currently 100 between gas and energy organisations and companies – provide voluntary experts to the technical committees who conduct a number of studies and projects. These are presented at the World Gas Conference, on the closing of the triennium. The 24th World Gas Conference - which concludes the 2006-2009 triennium - will take place on 5-9 of October 2009 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

This exchange of information and know-how – which encompasses topics from production well to burner tip, including related topics involving LNG, sustainable development, economics, regulation and geo-political issues – is the way IGU achieves its Mission, of promoting technical and economic progress, improving competitiveness and emphasising sound environmental performance, safety and reliability of the global gas industry.

However, IGU has also declared its Vision of serving as the spokesman for the gas industry worldwide through co-operation with Governments, policy-makers and international energy-related organisations, and it is here where we envision that this bonding with the IEF will establish a landmark in the history of IGU.

The last decade has displayed a clear trend of growing complexities surrounding crucial energy issues like security of supply, project financing, increasing operational and maintenance costs, and environmental concerns, which for now have been partially addressed, and mostly by means of a fragmented and regional approach.

It is in this context where high-level forums like the IEF, involving producers and industry leaders, as well as governments and authorities who represent the interest of the consumers, is crucial to debate and agree on equitable and sustainable schemes for both the energy value-chain and the end user.

Given the increasing role and responsibility natural gas is playing in the global energy matrix and, as a consequence, the huge amount of up front investments that the Gas Industry has to face, we are certain that IGU is in an excellent position to add significant value to these producer-consumer dialogues.

Some of the topics we believe are of interest to both organisations, which are currently being developed in the projects of our 2006 - 2009 Triennial Work Programme, are the following:

· Key drivers, obstacles and challenges of both corporate and government parties involved in the natural gas industry

· Key issues for long term partnerships

· Gas market integration

· Balancing the needs of security of supply and demand

· Sustainable development (in economic, operational and environmental concerns)

In these lines, we are very grateful for the invitation to attend the 11th International Energy Forum in Rome next month, where we hope to extend the relationship between our organisations, with the prospect of organising a joint meeting later this year. We are certain the outcome of this meeting will prove to be very valuable, and will provide grounds to further debate which we would be honoured to host during our next World Gas Conference.