International Conference | Berlin | 14 December 2007
Transparency in the Extractive Sector
Reception 13 December 2007
Opening Session and Panel Discussion 14 December 2007
Workshops 14 December 2007
Closing Session 14 December 2007
At the 2007 G8 Summit in Heiligendamm the Heads of State and Government reiterated their support for increased transparency in the extractive sector and committed themselves to work closely together with resource-rich countries and emerging economies in realising this aim.
Increased transparency in the extractive sector is of central importance for achieving accountability, good governance and sustainable economic development worldwide. This applies with regard both to the mining and processing of raw materials and to the subsequent trade and financial flows.
Transparency holds benefits for all stake-holders involved in the extractive sector - for resource-rich countries and their people, for industrialised or emerging countries, and for private and state-owned enterprises.
Because of the importance of the topics, the German G8 presidency proposed hosting an international conference before the end of 2007. The International Conference on “Transparency in the Extractive Sector” will take place on 14 December 2007, in Berlin, Germany. The conference will be convened by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi).
The conference aims to provide an international high-level forum to underline the importance of transparency in the extractive sector (i.e. the oil, gas and mining industry, public institutions in resource-rich countries). The event gives an opportunity to advance the dialogue on transparency and strengthen cooperation between resource-rich, emerging and industrialised countries. Attention will also be given to certification systems as important instruments contributing to greater transparency in the extraction, trade and processing of raw materials, the reduction of environmental pollution and the observance of social standards.
The conference shall reflect on the current state of discussion, make note of agreement and dissent, and provide a preview of tasks at hand and steps to be taken and will be fed into further international fora.
Up to 200 conference participants will include high-ranking representatives from developing, emerging and industrialised countries, the civil society, the private sector, academia, international organisations, bilateral and multilateral donors and established networks.
