The Conference closed with a stakeholder forum, which included 30 speakers making commitments on how they will develop the EITI process to enhance governance of the extractive industries (full list including speakers names and titles are in the annex). The below is a summary of statements made.
The Ministers from the two newly implementing countries spoke about they would use the EITI to contribute to the wider public debate about the sector in their countries.
Cameroon noted that the EITI had led to increased capacity of civil society, better pubic visibility of the extractives sector, more optimal mining taxation, including share of revenues going to the municipalities, and public debate around the management of the EI sector. Papua New Guinea noted that its government was committed to the EITI for social and economic development. Albania explained how its EITI report now included the hydropower sector. Whilst, Sao Tome e Principe explained how its government was using the EITI to attract investment and improve economy.
Ethiopia used the event to officially launch its first EITI report. Honduras, who joined at the last Conference, spoke about their new mining law which had reference to EITI. Senegal spoke about its recent oil discoveries off shore, and its aims to publish contracts to be enacted in law in 2016. Tanzania emphasised its new government’s strong commitment to private sector development, transparency and efficient service delivery to the public. Liberia noted that all new Liberian laws supported transparency (mining, petroleum, forestry). The country welcomed discussion on beneficial ownership, but noted that it needed careful consideration of legal requirements in various countries. Licensing information in Kyrgyzstan was now available through electronic reporting. Kazakhstan again committed to continued efforts to implement the EITI.
The Norwegian government announced that it was introducing stricter transparency rules regarding beneficial ownership. It welcomed EITI’s moves towards mainstreaming as Norway had produced seven EITI with reconciliations finding no discrepancies. Furthermore, the government encouraged implementing countries to strengthen self-financing.
The new government in Argentina announced that it was interested in applying to the EITI for its national government and also its 24 provinces. It hoped to be a member in two years. The Government of Surinam also announced that it was committed to implement the EITI Standard as part of wider fiscal reforms. The country was finalising the drafting of its mineral law, where transparency will play a central role. Surinam would apply for candidature in 2016. A group has been set up in Russia to discuss how the EITI relates to Russian legislation. The EITI was seen to be fully in line with aims of Russian government and a useful instrument to attain its development goals. Tunisia recommitted to implement the EITI. They was strong political will to disclose information about the sector and good relations were being developed with civil society and the media to encourage better understanding of Tunisia’s resources.
Messages of support were received from the African Development Bank, the European Union, and the Italian Government.
There were strong statements of support by video from the CEOs of Total, Statoil, RioTinto and Freeport McMoRan. Pacific Rubiales Peru, spoke of their social fund for indigenous communities.
PWYP welcomed the continued PWYP-EITI relationship, but expressed concerns about the governance challenges of the EITI at the national and global levels. Extractive Industries Civil Society (EICS) emphasised the importance of having a tri-partite collaboration, and the need for good governance within the civil society constituency.
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