Information Note
For use of information media - Not an official record
UN Promoting sustainable development in the mining sector
Intergovernmental Forum Plays a Critical Role in Policy Formulation
Geneva, Switzerland, 8 November 2011
UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panichpakdi, speaking at the opening of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), which took place in Geneva from 1 to 3 November, underlined the role that the Forum plays in enhancing capacity for good governance in member States. He also pointed out ways in which the Forum and United Nations agencies, UNCTAD in particular, might work more closely together.
Leonard Kalindekafe, Chair of the Forum, from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Environment of Malawi, stressed the importance of Members implementing the mining policy framework, as developed by the Forum and recognized at CSD19 as a way to promote sustainable development in the mining sector. He also stressed that the current strong market for minerals increased the relevance of the Forum and highlighted its role as a vehicle to help member countries implement the framework.
Some 62 representatives of member and observer States, the private sector and non-governmental organizations presented case studies and compared notes on policies they have implemented that have enabled their countries to secure greater benefits from their mineral resources.
Priority issues addressed included ways that national governments and mining companies can work together to promote greater local economic and social development in communities that depend on mining operations and how to carry out equitable consultations among governments, mining companies and local communities.
Also discussed this year were national initiatives, as well as the Small-Scale Mining Initiative of the World Bank, the Responsible Mineral Development Initiative of the World Economic Forum, and the Conflict-Free Mining Initiative of the World Gold Council. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative provided an update on its activities and methods to secure greater transparency for financial transactions in the sector.
The new programme of work was adopted to facilitate the implementation of the mining policy framework by country members, reflecting the progress made to date and ensuring that CSD19 outcomes were on target.
The Forum also elected the new Executive Committee for a two-year term. Leonard Kalindekafe, Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Environment, Malawi, was elected Chair. The following people were elected to serve as Vice-Chairs: Bayarbat Sangajav, Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mongolia, for Asia; Paul Masanja, Ministry of Energy and Minerals, United Republic of Tanzania, for Africa; Nikolay Miletenko, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States; Ginny Flood, Natural Resources Canada, for North America and Octavio López, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, for the Dominican Republic.
The IGF was created during the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10), held in Johannesburg in 2002. A voluntary initiative, it was officially established in 2005 by national governments interested in promoting good governance in the management of mineral resources. It now has 43 member countries and is the only global intergovernmental policy forum in the mining and metal sector.
Members and observers expressed their appreciation to the Governments of Canada and France for their financial contributions and to UNCTAD for hosting the event.
