GENEVA - The Intergovernmental Forum for Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development concluded its Nov. 7-9 inaugural meeting with an agreement to pursue work on several fronts. Members plan to work on financial instruments related to mine closures, regional and local factors that support mining, data management (including geoscience) templates, governmental mineral policy, and more.
The Forum recommended that governments and agencies encourage the mining industry through capacity building and technical support, increased collaboration, the exchange of information, and other such co-operative efforts. A committee was established to examine market trends and potential restrictions to international mineral trade.
The Forum developed out of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa. Canada and South Africa provided aid in launching the Forum, and additional support came from UNCTAD, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the World Bank, Canada and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID).
The 33 members of the Forum are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kazakhstan, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, the Philippines, Romania, the Russian Federation, Senegal, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, the United Kingdom, Uruguay and Zambia.
Gary Nash, assistant deputy minister of NRCAN's Mining and Metals Sector, was elected chair of the forum. He may be reached at 613-992-2490 or Gary.Nash@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.
Comments