Australian High Commission
Mauritius
Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Comoros, Reunion Island (consular)

Policy and Capacity Building in Mining sector- Western Australian Government Training program

 

Australia’s Ambassador, HE Ms Jenny Dee, opened a two-day workshop on Policy and Capacity Building in the Mining Sector this morning at the Mining Business Centre in Antananarivo. Some twenty Malagasy officials from the central administration and different governmental regional agencies will participate in this workshop which aims at sharing Australian experience in the development of legal and regulatory frameworks to promote sustainable mining practices that will support inclusive socio-economic  growth.

 

The workshop, which is being organised by the Australian Embassy in collaboration with the Western Australian Government and the Madagascar Ministry of Mining and Petroleum, will conclude on Friday 1 June 2018 with a public talk on “Efficiency and limits of monitoring of environmental impacts of mining operations in Madagascar” organised by A3-Mada (Australian Alumni of Madagascar) under its Speaker Series.

 

At the opening ceremony, Ms Dee said “Australia is pleased to contribute to capacity building programs that support the sustainable development of the mining sector in Madagascar. Besides its flagship scholarship program Australia Awards, the Australian government is happy to engage through the Australian Embassy to deliver such in-country programs.”

 

For HE Mr Ying Vah Zafilahy, Malagasy Minister of Mines and Petroleum “this workshop will enable Malagasy technocrats to benefit from the experience of a country that has a long history in the management of large-scale and diversified energy and mining sectors. Moreover, Australia has developed robust legislative and administrative frameworks incorporating environmental and social engagement components for sustainable and responsible practices in these key sectors of the economy.” 

 

The workshop is part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Western Australian Government and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) aimed at sharing knowledge and technology between Western Australia and COMESA countries in the fields of mining, petroleum and agriculture.

 

The Madagascar workshop, which is being held for the first time, will enable the Australian officials to share their experiences in developing the mineral resources industry over the past 120 years in Western Australia. Dr Rick Rogerson, Executive Director Resource Tenure, Resource Tenure Division and Dr Danielle Risbey, Team Leader, Environmental Compliance Branch both from the Western Australian  Department of Mines, Industry Regulation & Safety will conduct the Workshop in Antananarivo.

 

31 May 2018