AGREEMENT REACHED AT MEETING ON HOW MINERAL SECTOR

 

IMPACTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, POVERTY REDUCTION

 

NEW YORK, 25 September (Department of Economic and Social Affairs) -- Following a three-day meeting in Geneva, an agreement was reached among participants to assess progress in applying sustainable development mining practices, as outlined in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation adopted in 2002.  The agreement was reached at the annual general meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development, held from 17 to 19 September.

This year’s meeting focused on policies and practices that could be adopted by Governments and industry to enhance the benefits derived from mining at both the community and national levels.  The contribution of industry to infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals, was highlighted, especially in remote areas where mining normally occurs.

Members also discussed issues related to market access and expressed concern about the use of environmental and health regulations as barriers to trade of minerals, metals or their downstream products.

With the demand for minerals likely to significantly exceed supply in the medium term, the Forum recommended that intergovernmental agencies, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), should assign higher priority and continue to develop new incentives to support geological surveys and exploration activities, particularly in developing countries.

The Forum established a Preparatory Committee for the 2010-2011 sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, at which mining will be on the agenda.  The objective of the Committee is to help, encourage and guide Forum members in their preparations of progress reports related to the contribution to sustainable development of their mining sector since the Johannesburg World Summit.  This event further acknowledges the significant attention now being given to raw materials as a key factor in sustainable development.

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 the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Labour Organization (ILO), World Bank and the International Metals Study Groups.

Forum members agreed that a key theme for the next meeting would be on fiscal regimes, particularly as they pertain to investment decisions, revenue sharing, mine closures and abandoned mines.  Good governance and the generation and optimization of community and national benefits derived from mineral resources remain the overall concern of the Forum.

Financial support for the Forum came from the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom, Natural Resources Canada, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada, the Department of Economic Development of Germany and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

The Forum members welcomed India and Botswana as new members, bringing the total to 38 national Governments.  Other members are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Philippines, Guinea, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Uruguay, United Kingdom and Zambia. =

For further information, please contact Vladimir Servianov, Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Tel.: +1 212 963 8777, e-mail: Servianov@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record