Maravi

Govt urges small-scale miners to form joint ventures

Govt urges small-scale miners to form joint ventures
Written by masa
Friday, September 25, 2009 6:01:56 AM

MINES minister Maxwell Mwale has urged small-scale miners to form joint ventures with international firms for them to develop the gemstone industry.

During the official opening of a Small Scale Miners Strategic workshop in Lusaka yesterday, Mwale, in a speech read on his behalf by mines permanent secretary Dr Godwin Beene, said it was time that the sector started attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) as the government was only in a position to create a conducive business environment for the sector.

“Just as the big mines are attracting FDI, it is time that the small-scale miners also started working with foreign investors if they are to get finances which will help in profitably running their business,” he said.

Mwale also urged the sector to become more organised so that it could start accessing finances from the local commercial banks.

“It is very important that we cause the banks and lending institutions to start championing the small-scale mining sector,” he said. “But this can only be done once you as miners realise that mining should be conducted like any other business venture.”

Mwale acknowledged the challenges that most miners experienced in accessing financial assistance but said the problem could easily be resolved if the miners took the time to learn how to write bankable business plans which could easily be accepted by the lending institutions.

Labels: GEMSTONES, JOINT VENTURES, MAXWELL MWALE, MINING

posted by MrK @ 4:56 AM