INTERGOVERNMENTAL FORUM OF UN AGENCIES, NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES LAUNCHES ACTION PLAN FOR MINING DEVELOPMENT

INTERGOVERNMENTAL FORUM OF UN AGENCIES, NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

LAUNCHES ACTION PLAN FOR MINING DEVELOPMENT

NEW YORK, 11 November (DESA) -- The Intergovernmental Forum for Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development concluded its three-day inaugural meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, from 7 to 9 November, with a notable number of follow-up activities.

Of particular significance was a decision to begin preparation for the deliberations related to mining at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development Session to be held in 2010-2011.

The Forum agreed to further pursue work on financial assurance instruments related to mine closures, success factors underlying regional and local development strategies, the integration of mining into national development strategies, data management (including geoscience) system templates, and mineral policy frameworks, among others.

The Forum also made a number of recommendations for consideration by various intergovernmental agencies and Governments.  Recommendations pertained to capacity-building and technical support in addition to proposals encouraging increased collaboration, information exchange and cooperation.

[A market outlook advisory committee was established to examine mineral and metal market trends and potential constraints to international trade in mineral and metal products.]

Gary Nash, of Natural Resources Canada was elected Forum Chair.  In accepting the position, Mr. Nash stated "The Forum will need to demonstrate value added by initiating actions that directly and tangibly increase the contribution of mining to sustainable development."

The Forum also welcomed four vice-Chairs, elected from the four other regions of the world, with Africa represented by Ethiopia through Alemayehu Tegenu, Minister of Mines and Energy; South America by Suriname through Glenn Gemerts, Ministry of Natural Resources; Asia by the Philippines through Michael Cabalda, Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and Europe by the Russian Federation through Dr. Nikolay Miletenko, Ministry of Natural Resources.

In addition to member countries and international agencies, the European Commission and observers from other countries took part in the Forum.  The agencies represented were: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank.

The event is an initiative flowing from the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Members acknowledged the leadership provided by Canada and South Africa in launching the Forum.  They also acknowledged the support provided by UNCTAD, DESA, the World Bank, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The thirty-three members of the Forum are:   Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Philippines, Guinea, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uruguay and Zambia.

For further information, please, contact:  Anatoli Belov, Division for Sustainable Development, DESA, tel.:  +1 212 963-8786, e-mail:  abelov@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record