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IGF Welcomes Cambodia as 59th Member, Applauds Efforts to Advance Sustainable Development

July 10, 2017

The Government of Cambodia expressed its commitment to responsible governance of the mining sector by joining the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF).

“We are pleased to welcome Cambodia as the IGF’s 59th member,” IGF Director Greg Radford said. “Every nation which joins the Forum brings a unique perspective and adds depth to the dialogue. We look forward to Cambodia’s participation and applaud their efforts to leverage mining for sustainable development.”

The IGF is a voluntary partnership that welcomes any member state of the United Nations.

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The Ministry of Mines and Energy has a stated vision to develop Cambodia’s mineral resources in order to advance sustainable economic and social development. It is also committed to achieving transparency. It has identified several key missions:

  • Formulate policies, laws, regulations and a strategic plan to further develop the field of geology and mineral resources
  • Conduct geological and other research to support proper management of the mineral resources sector
  • Promote the participation of private sector businesses
  • Encourage businesses to use and conserve mineral resources effectively and to manage the environmental impact
  • Boost revenue collection

More information is available on the Ministry’s website here.

The IGF supports nearly 60 nations committed to leveraging mining for sustainable development to ensure that negative impacts are limited and financial benefits are shared.

It is devoted to optimizing the benefits of mining to achieve poverty reduction, inclusive growth, social development and environmental stewardship.

The IGF is focused on improving resource governance and decision making by governments working in the sector. It provides a number of services to members including: in-country assessments; capacity-building and individualized technical assistance; guidance documents and conferences that explore best practices and provide an opportunity to engage with industry and civil society.

These efforts are largely framed by IGF’s flagship policy guidance and assessment tool, the Mining Policy Framework (MPF). The MPF lays out international best practices in six key pillars of mining policy and law: the legal and policy environment; financial benefit optimization; socioeconomic benefit optimization; environmental management; mine closure and post-mining transitions; and artisanal and small-scale mining.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development has served as Secretariat for the IGF since October 2015. Core funding is provided by the Government of Canada.