On 12 May 2026, Acting Secretary-General, Ms. Atsuko Hirose, participated as a speaker at the Opening Plenary Panel of the Uzbekistan International Energy Forum, at the Invitation of the government of Republic of Uzbekistan. 

The Plenary Session was opened with a keynote speech of the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, HE Jamshid Khodjaev. Panel participants included the Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan, HE Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, Deputy Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, HE Orkhan Zeynalov, Vice-Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan, Mr. Ilyas Bakytzan, as well as the Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, Mr. Philip Mshelbila.