Breddat gruvindustriellt samarbete med Mexiko?
Vid SMTG:s möte 9 oktober fick jag i anslutning till handelssekreteraren Jakob Sjölanders
intressanta presentation möjligheten kort nämna tankar på samarbetsavtal –
Memorandum of Understanding, MoU – på gruvområdet med Mexiko.
Förra våren undertecknades på förslag från svensk exportindustri ett sådant MoU med
Chile. I november genomfördes sedan svenska gruvdagar i Santiago de Chile ”Innovative, Sustainable and Profitable Mining Conference” plus utställning, med ett
hundratal deltagare från gruvbolag, myndigheter osv. Liknande aktiviteter, med
Exportrådet som arrangör i samarbete med våra ambassador, har genomförts i
Australien och Kanada. Gruvdagarna i Santiago har följts av arbetsgruppsmöten och
deltagande i gruvmässor.
Förslag om MoU-samarbete också med Peru, (Colombia och) Mexiko har kommit upp.
Gruvindustriansvariga myndigheter i Mexiko har officiellt föreslagit Sverige en
samarbetsöverenskommelse. Man har begärt, och fått, omfattande information från
Sverige om en rad arbetsrättsliga (CSR) och miljöfrågor, om hållbar gruvutveckling, om
högskoleutbildning och forskning inom geologi, metallurgi mm.
Ett MoU tjänar som en ram för samarbeten mellan aktörer som företag, organisationer,
universitet osv i respektive lander och kan ‘öppna dörrar’. Regeringarna är inte direkt
inbegripna i samarbetet, som inte heller förutsätter särskild finansiering. Här gäller att
identifiera en kritisk massa av svenska respektive mexikanska intressenter.
Förutsättningar finns – som handelssekreteraren Jakob Sjölande visade på SMTG-mötet –
för svenska insatser på gruvområdet i Mexiko. Exportrådet är en viktig aktör i
sammanhanget. Svenska gruvdagar i Mexiko bör kunna bli en verklighet redan under
2013 för att lyfta fram svenskt branschkunnade och teknologiska lösningar!
Här lägger jag med texten till det svensk-chilenska gruvsamarbetsavtalet (Memorandum
of Understanding on Sustainable and Innovative Mining Cooperation) för kännedom.
Jag hör mycket gärna ifrån er – e.mailadress john-olof.dahlstein@foreign.ministry.se
eller per telefon – angående motsvarande MoU och gemensamma aktiviteter i Mexiko
(och Peru)! Exportrådet/handelssekreterarkontoret i Mexico City står väl rustat för
satsningar och projekt på gruvområdet. Om tillräckligt intresse finns kanske SMTG kan
diskutera nästa steg vid decembermötet i gruppen?
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John O Dahlstein
Ämnesråd / Senior Adviser
Amerikaenheten Utrikesdepartementet
Tel.: 08 - 405 55 10 Mobil 0702 - 49 36 15
john-olof.dahlstein@foreign.ministry.se
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF
SWEDEN AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE ON
SUSTAINABLE AND INNOVATIVE MINING COOPERATION
Based on the long-standing friendly relations between Sweden and Chile
(hereinafter referred to as the “Parties”), and
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Acknowledging the importance of the mining sector in both countries;
Recognising the mutual advantages of strengthening the ties between the
two countries in a forward-looking perspective;
Realising the opportunities for reciprocal economic and technological
cooperation in a win-win spirit;
Noting the potential for cooperation in the field of mining between the two
countries;
Recognising the important role of responsible business practices in achieving
sustainable management of mining,
the Parties have agreed as follows.
The Parties shall, within the framework of their national legislation and in line with the
requirements of Sweden’s EU membership, the EU-Chile Association Agreement and
other international obligations, promote cooperation in the field of sustainable
mining through the implementation of activities in Chile by entities directly
concerned in the above-mentioned fields.
PARAGRAPH I
OBJECTIVE of COOPERATION
Encouraged by ongoing contacts between the two countries and present
economic, environmental and technological developments, the Parties agree to
further consolidate their cooperation in the field of mining, and thus decide to
encourage cooperation in sustainable, innovative and profitable mining.
PARAGRAPH II
CONTENT of COOPERATION
The Parties announce the following fields as priorities of cooperation:
(1) Environmental sustainability in mining, including closing of old mines, energy
and water efficiency in mining
(2) Improved efficiency and profitability in mining, including innovation in mining
and efficiency in logistics
(3) Mining skills development
(4) Mining capital market development
(5) Mining safety improvement
(6) Capacity-building and promotion of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational
Enterprises.
PARAGRAPH III
FORMS and MEANS of COOPERATION
1. In order to achieve the objectives of this Memorandum of Understanding, the
Parties will encourage and support the establishment of contacts and
relations between government and in particular private sector professional
operators in the two countries;
2. Private sector participation within the framework of this Memorandum of
Understanding will include companies, academia and public-private
institutions;
3. Forms of cooperation may include policy and regulation information
exchange between the two countries, including joint technological research
and development, technology transfer, other information exchange,
capacity-building, etc.;
4. The Parties, including public and private representatives, may have
discussions, in order to evaluate ongoing projects and new cooperation by
preparing action plans, when necessary;
5. The Parties will encourage and support the establishment of relations between
commercial operators in the two countries through the promotion of events,
such as conferences, seminars, trade missions, study tours, and participation in
fairs and exhibitions. The Parties will also ensure that relevant authorities
facilitate efforts to identify opportunities in the mining sector in both countries
aimed at making mining projects bankable;
6. This Memorandum of Understanding does not entail any financial or legal
commitments on the part of the countries’ Governments.
PARAGRAPH
IV
INSTITUTIONAL
MECHANISM
of
COOPERATION
Any dispute arising from the interpretation or implementation of this
Memorandum will be settled through friendly negotiations and consultations
between the Parties.
The Memorandum will come into effect on the day of signature and will be valid
for five (5) years. If one Party intends to terminate the Memorandum, it will inform
the other Party in written form, and the Memorandum will be terminated six (6)
months after receipt of the notification.
This Memorandum of Understanding is hereby signed in two (2) originals in English
and Spanish, on the 19th May 2011 in Santiago de Chile, the two texts being
equally valid. In case of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.
For the Government of Sweden
For the Government of the
Republic of Chile
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