Martinelli speaks out on easing mining regulations in Panama

(newsroompanama.com) The global environmental lobby disregards the benefits of responsible mining in the development of a country said  Panama's President President, Ricardo Martinelli, in Lima, Peru, Thursday (August 26).

"There is a big environmental lobby in the world that sees only evil and not good. In Peru there are many good things in mining and it has been shown that responsible mining can build a great country," he said at an official dinner.

He was presented with the Grand Collar of the Order "The Sun of Peru" in the rank of Grand Cross by PeruvianPresident Alan Garcia.

Martinelli added that his government was "at a crossroads" on the amendment of legislation to facilitate foreign investment in the mining sector.

Information on the promotion of mining investments provided by the Peruvian government "opened his eyes."

The Panamanian Government intends to promote a law that allows foreign investors to exploit, among others, the copper deposit at Cerro Colorado, one of the largest copper reserves in the world that has failed to move forward because of environmental impact studies.

Garcia’s Government encourages mining investment but is also the scene of constant social and environmental conflicts.

In the morning, Martinelli met with Garcia to establish a "road map" for negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

*****

Original Source: http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/1605-martinelli-speaks-out-on-easing-mining-regulations-in-panama.html
Date Retrieved: August 28, 2010.