Minister of Industry and Commerce, Hugo Guiliani, hosted Ministers, Vice-Ministers, and senior government officials for the VI Annual Mines Ministries of the Americas Conference, on November 18-20, 2001, in Santo Domingo. The VI Annual Conference launched a week dedicated to promoting the mining sector in the Dominican Republic, culminating with the Dominican Republic’s first mining trade show, Expomin América 2001, also held in Santo Domingo, from November 21-24, 2001.

Approximately 85 delegates, from 20 of CAMMA=s 23 member countries, attended the VI Annual Conference. Member countries represented were: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, United States, and Venezuela. Observers included the President of OLAMI (Organización Latinoamericano de Minería) and project director of the MMSD (Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development) South American project.

Minister Guiliani welcomed the honoured guests and delegates, and opened the meeting by speaking about the Dominican Republic’s economic picture and the opportunities and priorities for the development of a world-class, competitive, and internationally attractive mining sector.


Mining Sector in the Dominican Republic

With and average growth rate in Latin America between 1996 and 2000 of approximately 8% (expected at 3% for 2001), and an inflation rate which decreased from 9% in 2000 to 6% in 2001, Minister Guiliani stated that the Dominican Republic is well positioned to attract direct foreign investment. In 2000, the mining made up about 2.0% of the country’s total GDP. Tourism, at approximately 30% of GDP, still ranks as the highest contributing sector to GDP, however the government is looking into initiatives which would increase minerals and metals production. In addition to finalizing an agreement with Placer Dome for the Pueblo Viejo mine, the Dominican government is committed to developping industrial mining zones and
implementing measures to stimulate the artisinal mining sector. Other inititiaves include simplifying and improving the current system of granting mine exploration licenses and mining concessions; the protection and coordination of the mining sector with national environmental legislation; the eliminiaton of bureaucracy; and, establishing a fiscal regime and Mining Code which are transparent, non-discretional, and will be actractive to the private national and international mining sectors.

Themes and Priorities for CAMMA 2001 – 2003

The themes for the VI Annual Conference were Sustainable Development, presented by Julián Villarruel Toro, Director General, Colombia Ministry of Mines and Energy, and Market Access for Minerals and Metals, presented by Patricio Cartagena, Executive Vice-President of the Chilean Copper Commission. Mr. Cartagena also presented the conclusions and recommendations of the Mine Closure Workshop which was co-hosted by the Chilean Copper Commission and the Chilean Ministry of Economy, Energy and Mines, at CEPAL Headquarters, in June 2001. Kim Stirling, Senior Policy Advisor, Natural Resources Canada, presented the Exeuctive Secretariat’s Report on the activities of the Coordinating Committee, as well as the conclusions and recommendations from the Mining and Communities Workshop hosted by Canada, in Toronto, on March 8-10, 2001. Mr. Marco Pérez, Technical Sub-director of the Dominican Republic’s Unidad Corporative Minera, presented future challenges and opportunities for CAMMA.