GHIAA 9th General Meeting: Charting the Course for International Hydrogen Cooperation
March 12, 2026 by Annie Nguyễn
Seville, Spain – On March 11, 2026, The Global Hydrogen Industry Alliance (GHIAA) held its 9th General Meeting on March 11, 2026, at the Fibes II Congress and Exhibition Centre in Seville, Spain, alongside the European Hydrogen Energy Conference 2026 (EHEC 2026). The meeting brought together representatives from hydrogen associations and international organizations to discuss cooperation and strategic initiatives for the global hydrogen economy.
Updates from the 8th Meeting and Key Initiatives
The meeting commenced with a briefing from the Secretariat on the outcomes of the 8th General Meeting held in Goyang, South Korea, on December 5, 2025. A major highlight was the successful expansion of GHIAA with the approval of five new member associations from Vietnam (VAHC), India (GH2 India), Peru (H2 Peru), Malaysia (MHIA), and South Africa (HICIA) . It was also reaffirmed that Spain was hosting this 9th meeting, as decided at the previous assembly.
A significant update was provided on the "Find Your Hydrogen Partners" service. Following its extension at the 8th meeting, the initiative is progressing through 2026. The Secretariat has initiated data collection from members and is currently in the review and validation phase before uploading it to the platform. This service aims to connect sponsor companies based on country, company size, and their position in the hydrogen value chain.
Three Core Agenda Items at the 9th General Meeting
The primary focus of the 9th General Meeting was the discussion and resolution of three key agenda items:
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Engagement with International Organizations & Events: Proposed by Hydrogen Europe and France Hydrogène, this agenda explored deepening GHIAA's involvement in global forums. The Secretariat presented a preliminary review of options, including applying for observer status with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) , the International Hydrogen Trade Forum (IHTF) , and the UN Climate Conference (COP) . Each option comes with specific requirements and application processes but presents significant opportunities for GHIAA to contribute to global hydrogen policy and regulation.
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Hosting the 10th GHIAA General Meeting: GH2 India formally proposed to host the alliance's next milestone event. This proposal marks the active participation of India, a newly admitted member, and signals a potential for deepening hydrogen cooperation in the South Asian region.
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Reappointment of the GHIAA Chair and Vice-Chairs: Proposed by the Secretariat, the members reviewed the leadership positions. The current Chair (United States) and Vice-Chairs (Republic of Korea and the European Union) were elected at the 5th and 6th General Assemblies, with their terms set to conclude in May and June 2026.
Additional Discussion: GHIAA-GGGI Cooperation
Beyond the three main agenda items, a notable addition was the Secretariat's report on cooperation with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) . Building on a cooperation proposal from February 2025, the two bodies are establishing a framework to identify and support global hydrogen projects. The focus will be on strategic industrial applications like Green Steel and Green Ammonia. GHIAA, through its Secretariat, will manage a project budget of up to USD 60,000 to coordinate activities and establish a Task Force with interested members.
Following the discussions, the representatives resolved the three main agenda items, paving the way for a new phase of GHIAA's development with enhanced international participation and geographic expansion. The formal meeting concluded with a group photo, followed by an EHEC 2026 exhibition tour and a networking lunch for all participants.
The event took place in conjunction with the European Hydrogen Energy Conference (EHEC 2026), one of the major international gatherings for hydrogen technology, policy, and industry development.
