DMP has been working with the COMESA secretariat and individual member countries to share collective experience and knowledge
| Date: | Thursday, 08 September 2016 |
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Western Australia’s ties with Kenya will be further strengthened with a visit this week by Cabinet Secretary for Mining the Hon. Dan Kazungu as part of the Africa Down Under Conference.
During his visit to Perth with a large delegation, Mr Kazungu will receive a full briefing on WA’s mining regulations and legislation from the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP).
DMP Deputy Director General Dr Tim Griffin said Kenya was a major partner of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), with which WA has established an MOU.
Dr Griffin said DMP had been working with the COMESA secretariat and individual member countries to share collective experience and knowledge DMP has in developing and sustaining a viable mining sector.
“By sharing our knowledge and experience in responsible and sustainable development of the resources sector, we can help the COMESA nations build their economy and help them raise the capacity of the mining regulators in Africa and develop more viable resources industries,” Dr Griffin said.
“It is pleasing to know the department is able to engage in briefings of this kind, which is an important component of the Memorandum of Understanding to encourage sustainable development in these African resource jurisdictions for better economic outcomes for the communities.
Western Australia’s Commercial Manager in Africa, Filippo Raggi, based in Nairobi, will be joining the delegation in Perth.
Mr Raggi has held several capacity raising seminars in Addis Ababa and Nairobi earlier this year and planning was in process for the next workshops to be held in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“We are looking to have more opportunities through the MOU which we hope will continue to build on the success of the events held in Kenya and Ethiopia and other work that has been achieved through the partnership with DMP,” Mr Raggi said.
Mr Kazungu is Kenya’s second Cabinet Secretary for Mining. Appointed to the role in December 2015, his mandate is to strengthen the Kenyan mining sector by delivering a predictable legal framework and ensuring transparency in the sector.
The Cabinet Secretary made the first presentation after yesterday’s official opening of the Africa Down Under Conference.
