HIGH LEVEL SOUTH AFRICAN PARLIAMENT ROUNDTABLE ABOUT THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE, CAPE TOWN, MONDAY 25 OCTOBER, 2010
The Chairman of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Dr Peter Eigen and the National Director of the South African Institute of International Affairs have great pleasure in inviting you and your Committee to participate in a high-level, half day workshop forum on South Africa and the EITI on Monday 25 October 2010.
The EITI is the global standard for the transparent management of mineral, oil and gas resources. Thirty-one countries are now implementing the EITI. It has the international support of 50 of the world’s major oil, gas and mining companies, including companies like Anglo-American and Anglo-Gold Ashanti, as well as the backing of institutional investors who collectively manage assets of over$16trillion. In each country, the process is overseen by a multi-stakeholder group of government, companies and civil society and trade unions.
Given South Africa’s important extractive sector and the obvious governance and tax collection challenges that come with it, the Minister of Finance asked Dr Eigen to explore the potential for implementing the EITI. We have little doubt that implementation of the EITI could contribute towards increased trust amongst affected communities about how the sector is governed.
We see the roundtable as an opportunity to discuss the EITI at the highest level with the South African government to update the government on developments within the EITI globally and to assess the potential of us working together for the enhanced governance in the extractive sector. All costs would be covered by the organisers:the South African Institute of International Affairs.
Please do not hesitate to contact the organiser Mr Tim Hughes of SAIIA (hughes@researchsa.com or 083 290 2666 for further information.
The programme is outlined below and the event will take place at the Townhouse Hotel close to Parliament specifically for the convenience of Honourable Members. A background information pack on the EITI will be sent to you shortly.
0900 Welcome to the workshop by the SAIIA National Director
0910 Opening speech by Dr Peter Eigen, Chair of EITI
0930 Presentation of the EITI by Jürgen Reitmaier, Senior Regional Advisor, EITI
1000 Facilitated discussion by Tim Hughes, Research Fellow SAIIA
1100 Coffee
1115 Facilitated discussion continued
1215 Wrap-up discussion
1230 Lunch
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries of any nature
whatsoever.
Yours sincerely,
___________________
TIM HUGHES
RESEARCH FELLOW AND PROGRAMME CONVENOR
