Mining ministry hosts sector stakeholders for key forum

Mining Cabinet Secretary, Dan Kazungu

The Ministry of Mining will tomorrow hold the second edition of the annual Kenya Mining Forum  in Nairobi that is expected to be opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The two-day event will showcase Kenya’s mineral potential in prospecting, exploration and mining as well as attract business for financial institutions, technology solution providers while encouraging capacity building in mining related professions.

The forum is expected to afford the country a great opportunity to showcase its mineral wealth and also encourage mineral rich communities to embrace mining as an economic activity that has immense potential to transform not only the socio-economic wellbeing of Kenyans but also contribute to the national economic growth.

According to Mining Cabinet Secretary, Dan Kazungu, since the country held the first  forum last year, the Kenya has jumped sixteen positions in the world’s most attractive mining investment destinations ranking globally from position 102 to 86, according to a 2017 survey released by Fraser Institute.

This has been attributed to the reform agenda instituted by the ministry that has seen development of the Mining Act 2016, comprehensive and progressive mining regulations and geo data.

“The ministry is glad that the government has recognised mining and extractives among key growth sectors for value addition and job creation over the next five years. Currently the annual total value of minerals extracted stands at Sh25 billion, excluding construction minerals that are classified as minerals under the newly enacted Mining Act of 2016” Kazungu said.

This year’s forum will compromise of a series of activities including; a strategic two-day conference, business to business (B2B) meetings, minerals and mining equipment exhibitions, free technical workshops, chief executives roundtables among others.

All key mining stakeholders in Kenya are expected to attend and participate as speakers and panelists.

Those to be represented at the meeting include large and small scale miners; artisanal miners; gemstones and precious metals; exploration companies; finance houses; law firms; technology providers; equipment and service providers.