Australia-Africa Mining Industry Group (Aamig), which will have a presence in the Australia Lounge at the 2015 Investing in African Mining Indaba, says that it will focus on further increasing its membership and strengthening relations with the Australian government and African State governments.

Aamig CEO Trish O’Reilly says that, in 2014, the organisation’s membership increased to 108 members and it developed into a strong, consolidated voice that promotes and represents Australian companies that work in the extractive industry in Africa. Aamig also developed an extensive calendar of events for its members.

“Further, we have developed a strategy to expand into the oil and gas industry in Africa, as we recognise that it faces similar challenges to those in the mining sector,” she adds.

O’Reilly details that Aamig also established the facilitation of the Extractive Industry Infectious Disease Risk Management (Idram) Initiative, in 2014, which addresses responses to emerging infectious diseases.

The Idram Initiative is part of the USAid Emerging Pandemic Threats Programme, which aims to pre-empt or combat emerging infectious diseases of animal origin, which pose a threat to human health, at the source.

In June 2014, work, which was led by Idram and the Centre for Global Health Security at Chatham House, in London, and which was managed by international aid organisation International SOS and funded by USAid, started in Katanga province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

O’Reilly says the group will build on the achievements of the previous year at this year’s indaba to grow even further. Aamig has attended the past three indabas, as it regards the event as a great opportunity to meet with members and potential members as well as African governments and officials who would not normally travel to Australia to explore and discuss issues of relevance.

She believes that commodity prices, infrastructure development and political and fiscal stability are some of the issues that will take centre stage during discussions at the indaba.

About Aamig
Aamig was established in 2011 to assist Australian companies involved in the resources industry in Africa in gaining a better understanding of and dealing with nontechnical risk issues in a consistent manner that aligns with international best practice and supports the aspirations of the Africa Mining Vision of 2009.

O’Reilly explains that Australia has more than 220 ASX-listed mining-related companies that have a presence in Africa. The organisation provides guidance for members on nontechnical risk issues through seminars, roundtables and workshops. It also exposes members who have limited experience in mining in Africa to the knowledge and experience of members that have been working in Africa for decades.

Aamig bridges the gap between the resources industry and the state governments of Australia and those of African States, government agencies, nonprofit organisations and academia.

“We focus on social investment, security, corporate governance and political risk, and provide guidance on leading practice in corporate social responsibility and issues specific to doing business in Africa. Through exploration, construction, operation and mine-site closure, we are committed to ensuring that companies gain and maintain a social licence to operate,” she elaborates.

O’Reilly adds that the group also helps member companies to align the expectations of host communities, governments and society through the facilitation of the exchange of ideas and making available critical information to the industry.

“Aamig’s guidance underpins the basic business case, contributes meaningfully to the local communities in which we operate, builds and maintains a social licence to operate, reduces investment and operating risk, and makes our business activities and growth into the future sustainable. In so doing, we will also satisfy the reasonable expectations of society,” she concludes.