The Australia-Africa Mining Industry Group (AAMIG) held its inaugural Annual General Meeting at the Celtic Club in West Perth last week, with Chairman Bill Turner highlighting a number of early achievements for the fast-growing industry association, which was formally incorporated in May 2011 to represent Australian and Australian-based exploration, mining, service and supply companies active in Africa. “We’ve had an extremely successful and busy first year,” Turner said.

“In addition to growing AAMIG’s membership to its current level of 96 members, we have also achieved a number of ‘early runs on the board’ to deliver real value to our member companies.” Turner said in the past year AAMIG has established guiding documentation for member companies operating in Africa, and developed support processes including a Gap Analysis Tool. AAMIG has also made a number of submissions to Government on behalf of its members, including specific country briefs, and support for member applications for the Direct Aid Program through the Australian Government Heads of Mission in Africa.

It has implemented regular information seminars – which are well attended and well received by members. Members also receive a bi-monthly newsletter and weekly email of industry news, which, together with a well developed and informative website, provide a relevant resource base for Australian explorers, miners and related service and supply providers in support of their activities on the African continent.

Looking ahead, Turner said AAMIG expects another very busy year with the focus on continuing to enhance the capacity of AAMIG members to be “Partners of Choice” and “Employers of Choice” in Africa. “We are also developing an accreditation process that will deliver real value to AAMIG members, and will continue our efforts to build a “Team Australia” approach which includes building relationships between the mining industry, governments, not-for-profits and academia.”