Speaking at the opening of the high level conference preceding the 3rd Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Conference of Ministers Responsible for Mineral Resources Development, ECA Officer-in-Charge, Special Initiatives Division, Ms Fatima Denton, said that the AMV is a bold vision that demands a new narrative which can only be achieved if partnership becomes an important lever to redress the balance and create equality of opportunities for the African people.
Ms Denton said that the AMV must re-set the dials of the compass to industrialization to ensure that in the new climate of natural resource exploitation that we not only extract, and but add value to our resources. "As we collectively re-write the new narrative on mining and extractive, we remain determined in our resolve to enter into broad agreement with governments, regional economic communities, private sector, research institutions and men and women of Africa and beyond who remain tireless in their fight for an inclusive and sustainable growth".
She added that Africa's endowment with abundant natural resources needn't be a curse, but a blessing. "The blessing is to reset the compass points to a future on which we can weigh the scale of our ambition against a sector that will shore up new jobs, create novel opportunities and design policies, frameworks and mechanisms that will support, accompany and deliver on the bold lifelong project of the Africa Mining Vision." She said.
Over 60 senior government experts in mining and natural resources development, including civil society, private sector have convened in Maputo for a high level conference under the theme 'Leveraging the African Mining Vision for Africa's Renaissance: towards broader ownership. The 3 day high level conference taking place between 13 and 17th December seeks to brainstorm on how African countries can design and implement effective strategies and policies through the AMV framework.
Meanwhile, Director of Trade and Industry at the AUC, Ms Treasure Maphanga commended ECA and other partners including Africa Development Bank for their technical support in shaping the AMV and developing a business plan for establishing the Africa Mineral Development Centre (AMDC).
Ms Maphanga said the AMV was an African owned initiative re-writing the African story and represents a major structural transformation of moving mineral worth from an enclave of extractive industries to inclusive development.
The AMV was adopted by African Heads of States and Governments in February 2009 and directed Ministers Responsible for Mineral Resources to develop a road map for implementing the vision for a transparent, equitable and optimal exploitation of mineral resources to underpin broad-based sustainable growth and socio-economic development.
The 3rd Ordinary Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers responsible for Mineral Resources Development is convening to among others review the business plan for the AMDC as an institutional framework for the implementation of the AMV.
The AU Conference of Ministers will also officially launch the African Mineral Development Centre as a project on Monday, 16 December 2013.
The high-level conference and AU Conference of Ministers is jointly organised by the African Union, the Republic of Mozambique and The Economic Commission for Africa.
