ECOWAS Ministers to Meet in Monrovia on Mineral Development Policy, Forum

5 October 2010
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Economic Community of West African States (Abuja)
press release

Monrovia - Liberia — Regional Ministers responsible for the mineral sector in Member States will meet on Friday, 8th October 2010 in Monrovia, Liberia to consider the draft Mineral Development Policy as well as the Report of the Concept Committee on the ECOWAS Mining & Oil Forum (ECOMOF).

The draft Common Mining Policy (CMP) seeks to establish an efficient legislative and regulatory framework that will ensure promote the integrated and harmonized development of West Africa's mineral resources so that they can benefit from the explosion in the global demand for minerals. Specifically, the policy aims to provide a common policy framework that will promote the emergence of a competitive and integrated national and regional mining sector which will contribute to the sustainable socioeconomic development of ECOWAS Member States.

In addition, it will help create a mining environment conducive to the sustainable macro-economic development within the region and ensure a balance between the necessity to establish incentives to attract investors and the need to protect the income base and resources of Member States in an environment conducive for attracting investments. The ministers will also inaugurate the Ad-hoc Committee to monitor the implementation of the ECOWAS Directive on the Harmonization of Guiding Principles and Policies in the Mining Sector of May 2009 and its accompanying plan of action in order to report to the President of the ECOWAS Commission.

The 10-member Committee, to be headed by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Trade, Customs, Industry and Mines and Free Movement, will among other functions, ensure compliance with the Directive by Member States, ensure the operation of the presidential advisory body within the framework of the application of the Directive and propose pertinent recommendations for the effective application of the Directive to the President of the Commission, in addition to preparing a six-monthly report for the President of the Commission. Members of the Committee will also ensure that the Directive is published in the National Gazettes of Member States.

The ministers, who will be treated to some presentations, including those on the Computerized Mine Cadastre Management system and the UNDP capacity development project, will also consider the report of a preceding experts meeting which will begin on Monday, 4th October 2010 in Monrovia.

The experts' report is expected to include a brief on the newly established Concept Committee, in accordance with a regional regulation to have a mining forum "as a framework for periodic meetings and exchanges among stakeholders in the mining sector".

The Concept Committee is mandated, among others, to harmonizing legal, regulatory and taxation instruments, promote and develop small-scale and craft mining, developing Community infrastructure as well as strengthening trade in mining and oil products.

Read the original article on Ecowas.

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