DUSHANBE, November 4, 2013, Asia-Plus — The next sixth meeting of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Council took place in Dushanbe on November 1.
According to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) Secretariat, the meeting discussed issues related to further development of the process of introduction of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Tajikistan and the requirement specification for a survey on the EITI accountability coverage in Tajikistan.
The meeting reportedly decided to endorse the requirement specification and apply to the EITI international board and the World Bank for determining candidates of consultants for conducting this survey.
The EITI Council also discussed the issue of making changes to its working plan and the EITI international board proposal on the possibility of participation of Tajikistan in a pilot project aimed at disclosing information on the beneficiary right.
The EITI Council members include representatives from relevant ministries and agencies of the country, civil society and mining enterprises, the source said.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI, is the widely-accepted international framework for strengthening transparency and accountability in the extractives sector. It was launched in 2002, and is currently implemented in 35 countries across the globe. It is unique in terms of bringing together representatives from three different groups – private sector, civil society and Government – to work together, through the verification and full publication of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas, and mining.
Adherence to and implementation of EITI is crucial for Tajikistan’s economic and social development. Recent mining reforms and mineral discoveries are likely to significantly expand the extractive sector in Tajikistan. Yet, these resources are not renewable and therefore need to be managed very carefully. In this context, EITI will bring many benefits to Tajikistan: an improved investment climate, a signal to international investors that the government has a clear commitment to transparency and good governance, and strengthened accountability vis-à-vis the people of Tajikistan.
