UN DEPARTMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT AND UNDP ORGANIZE MINING PROMOTION DAYS IN BURKINA FASO

Press Release
DEV/2079

UN DEPARTMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT AND UNDP ORGANIZE MINING PROMOTION DAYS IN BURKINA FASO

New York, 30 November (UN Department for Development Support and Management Services) -- The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Mines of Burkina Faso, with the financial support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the technical support of the United Nations Department for Development Support and Management Services (DDSMS) will organize for the first time in Ouagadougou, mining promotion days to extend from 4 to 8 December.

It is expected that more than 100 international participants will attend the forum on this question, including representatives from about 50 national and foreign mining companies.

The mining promotion forum will offer participants an opportunity to get better acquainted with the mineral potential of Burkina Faso, the new mining investment code, the taxation system applied to mining companies and the available geological data base. For over 20 years, BUMIGEB (the State organization involved in the administration of the mineral sector) has worked closely with UNDP through the DDSMS. The latter has implemented a number of successful exploration and evaluation projects and provided assistance towards the drafting of the code. As a result, an increasing number of international mining companies have shown interest in the mineral potential of Burkina Faso and have obtained exploration permits. Burkina Faso is well endowed with minerals, particularly gold, lead, zinc and manganese.

In addition to various presentations by representatives of the Government, UNDP, the DDSMS, World Bank, the European Economic Community (EEC), and mining companies already prospecting in Burkina Faso, there will be field trips organized for the participants to visit the gold deposits in Yako Kaya and in Essakane (industrial small-scale enterprise).

The forum will also provide an opportunity to stress the key present-day realities affecting investment in sustainable development.

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