The Government hosted today the first meeting of Extractive Industries Transparency Multi Beneficiary Initiative Group (EIT MBIG), which ushered in the introduction of EITI standards in Armenia. The meeting was moderated by multi beneficiary group president, Minister-Chief of Government Staff David Haroutunyan.
In his opening remarks, David Haroutunyan stated in part: “The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, is a global standard stimulating open and accountable management of natural resources, which currently has 51 member States with candidate and corresponding statuses. It is a wonderful tool, regardless of the political changes in the country, identifying the existing problems in the field of mining cooperative framework to ensure transparency and accountability in the sector, which in turn helps improve the investment attractiveness of the mining industry and increase public trust.
The idea was born to join the initiative within the framework of the Open Government Partnership. The Prime Minister announced Armenia’s readiness to implement the standard in the Republic of Armenia on July 28, 2015 at a meeting of the Anti-Corruption Council, after which the government in collaboration with the staff of the World Bank organized a series of public information meetings in the regions of Armenia and Yerevan, to raise the awareness of both society and mining companies of EITI standard and start work on formation of multi beneficiary group. As early as in mid-June 2016, the Government, mining companies and civil society named the members of the multi beneficiary group in Armenia. (The lineup has been approved by the Prime Minister, dated 24 November 2016 1104 – A decree).
In 2017, the presentation of applications for EITI membership was confirmed in the government program. At first, EITI will cover metal mining. A decision was made to expand the scope of coverage in EITI. After drafting the program of activities, the areas of cooperation with international partner organizations will be outlined more clearly. I want to thank them separately for supporting us to counter the challenges facing us in the introduction and implementation EITI activities.”
The meeting was also addressed by the mining organizations representatives and members of civil society, as well as by the representatives of international partner organizations in attendance.
They stressed the importance of implementing the initiative of the investment, the business environment, increase transparency and accountability in the mining sector; minimize risks, promoting dialogue between the Government, the business circles and the public sector in economic activity.
Currently, the Group is pursuing EITI standard-compliant mandatory activities in order to file an application and become EITI member in 2017.
The meeting was also briefed on the work of the USAID-supported digitization and publication of data available in the Republican Geological Fund. In particular, the www.geo-fund.am website was launched. Underway is work on digitization of the stock pad of nearly 2 million pages of information, cartography and graphic packages, geological, financial and non-financial statements and other documents conserved since the 20s of the last century. There have already been implemented more than half of digitization work, which is available on the foundation’s website.
