The Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) was given the Analdex and ProColombia’s National Exports Award in the category of Exporting Cooperation, the most prestigious foreign commerce award in Colombia.
Within the framework of the XXXV National Exporters Congress, held on September 7 and 8, 2023, at the Centro de Convenciones Expofuturo de Pereira, ARM’s team received the prestigious award from the Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, Luis Felipe Quintero; the president of the board of directors of Analdex, Ronald Bacalarz; the executive president of Analdex, Javier Díaz Molina and the vice president of exports of ProColombia, Juliana Villegas Restrepo.
This recognition is not only a highlight for ARM’s role in providing specialized support to artisanal and small-scale mining in the development of exports. It also commends its continuous work encouraging formalization and good mining practices with the development of standards acknowledged by the national and international precious metals industries.
Connect the ASM with the international market
As part of its mission of supporting small-scale miners on their path towards responsible, profitable mining, ARM develops its commercialization and exporting strategies based on its understanding of the international gold market, as well as its tendencies, barriers, and opportunities.
Additionally, it develops a skill-building process regarding exports, international logistics, international commerce terms, and the foreign exchange market, among others, providing tools for small-scale mining organizations to become international.
Since 2014, ARM has supported over twenty mining organizations in the internationalization of their gold production in Colombia as well as in other countries in the region and even in countries such as Mongolia, making a contribution to the local development of mining communities.
“For almost 20 years, ARM has worked hard with and for mining communities that struggle to become leaders in the implementation of good practices on a daily basis, making a positive impact on thousands of people committed to developing a social and environmentally responsible activity.
We understood the commercialization context in mining territories and organizations, strengthening productive, innovative, and sustainable development processes, as well as the connection with the international responsible market, which supports, admires, and stands beside mining organizations with an ESG approach, fostering visualization of real impacts on mining communities.
Winning this prize sets a milestone in the construction of responsible supply chains for hundreds of artisanal and small-scale mining organizations. It means that there is recognition for the effort the ASM makes to reach international markets, overcoming all the different barriers and challenges this sector currently faces.
We have achieved the connection and impact on transparent, efficient, certified, and responsible supply chains starting from the small producer to responsible gold buyers at the international level with productive, logistics, negotiation, and participation processes that a miner deep within our country never thought they would”.Maria Camila Muñoz, Responsible Sourcing Officer at ARM
Cooperativa Multiactiva Agrominera in the Municipality of Iquira: A Success Case
One of the references for small-scale mining organizations in the country regarding precious metals is the Cooperativa Multiactiva Agrominera in the Municipality of Iquira, in the Department of Huila. This cooperative has the Fairmined standard certification, an initiative created by ARM that recognizes small-scale mining organizations that meet demanding responsible mining requirements.
ARM has supported this company since 2014, which has stood out at the regional level and in the international market for implementing good practices and its contribution to the economic development of its community.
“Our cooperative has been a main actor in the construction of a solid export and connection process with the international market. Our gold has been used to craft awards such as the Nobel Peace Prize medal and the Golden Palm of the Cannes Festival. Thanks to the Fairmined certification, we improved our production processes, strengthened our mining organization, boosted the well-being of workers and their families, and achieved countless benefits for our community in terms of environmental conservation and social and economic progress. We are certainly proud of it.
We acknowledge the outstanding work of the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) and its team of professionals throughout all these years. We highlight the initiatives that foster local development and the unconditional support of export and commercialization processes with customers qualified within responsible and well-implemented mining around the world. This work has brought well-being to vulnerable communities that defend and protect the environment, along with a sustainable development of the planet.”
Yor Ledy Zuñiga, Manager of Cooperativa Multiactiva Agrominera in the Municipality of Iquira
Un travail très intéressant. Je suis très curieux de lire sur les détails pour savoir comment ces projets sont implémentés auprès des structures minières artisanales accompagnéez