Toronto, Canada – 05 March 2017 - The African Union Commission (AUC) participated in the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Trade Show event from 05-08 March 2017. The key objective of the African Union Commission led Delegation was to provide a platform for business dialogue and establishment of linkages between the African Private Sector and the Canadian Private Sector with a view to promoting investments in the exploration and geological information that African countries need to negotiate good mining contracts, to share best practices in Public Private Partnerships, as well as promoting value addition and commodity based industrialization as part of the Commodity Strategy guided by the aspirations of the Agenda 2063, the principles of the Africa Mining Vision and within the framework of Africa Minerals Governance Framework.

The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is the leading voice of the mineral exploration and development community. With over 8,000 members around the world in all sectors of the mining industry, the PDAC’s mission is to promote a globally-responsible, vibrant and sustainable minerals industry. As the trusted representative of the sector, PDAC encourages best practices in technical, operational, environmental, safety and social performance. PDAC, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, hosted the International Mines Ministers Summit (IMMS) for the second year, bringing together 25 Ministers responsible for mining from around the world including Africa. The event provided an important setting for the global mining community to explore challenges and opportunities affecting the industry. This year’s Summit focused on innovation in the mining industry and the clean innovation agenda.

The African Union Commission’s Delegation was led by Mr. Frank Mugyenyi, Senior Industry Advisor for the Department of Trade and Industry and included the Chairpersons/Presidents of the Sub-Regional Associations of the Chamber of Mines for Eastern, Southern and Western Africa. The group presented in various sessions.  Mr. Mugyenyi representing AUC participated in a panel discussion entitled: “Is Africa Ready for the Upturn?: an open interactive discussion on opportunities and critical issues in African mining”. At this panel, he demonstrated the importance of the geological mapping of African resources and urged African countries to address this issue as priority. Mr. Mugyenyi also made a presentation on "Africa Mining Vision: Attracting responsible investments in exploration". The objective of the presentation was to showcase the African Union Commission’s activities related to the mineral sector in line with the Agenda 2063. The Senior Industry Advisor also met with African prominent stakeholders in mineral industry including Ministers of mining from Kenya, Mali, Sudan, Egypt and Guinea Conakry and other high level Government and private sector  representatives with whom they discussed key issues to ensure optimal and shared benefits from the mineral resources exploitation.

The AUC also held a coordination meeting with AUC Partners the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business chaired by the Canadian Ambassador to Ethiopia and AUC, H.E Ambassador Phillip Baker to plan for the longer term collaboration between AUC and the Canadian Government.

At the PDAC 2017 Trade Show, the AUC managed to secure a booth that provided high visibility for its activities. It provided essential contacts and information about the AUC and also displayed information from across the continent on mineral resources development to be provided by the Sub-regional Associations of the Chamber of Mines.

At the PDAC 2017 Closing Ceremony, the African Delegation including the AUC, got for the first time, the privilege to close the Toronto Stock Exchange Index (TMX).

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For more information, please contact: Mr. Frank Mugyenyi, Senior Industry Advisor - Email: MugyenyiF@africa-union.org

Media contacts:

Patient Atcho, Department of Trade and Industry – Tel: + 251 929335250 - Email: atchop@africa-union.org  and Esther Azaa Tankou, Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC Tel. +251 911361185, E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org/ esthertankou@yahoo.com

For further information: Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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