Promoting Transparency in the Mining Industry Is Important: INAI

During a forum to promote transparency in Chihuahua, experts agreed on the importance of promoting open information in the mining industry as it is one of the most important economic activities in the state and needs to challenge a somewhat negative reputation. 

During the 2022 National Transparency Week, organized by the National Institute for Information Access (INAI), Josefa Roman, Commissioner, INAI, said that over the week she will promote a discussion regarding the importance of publicly available data and its digitalization. This discussion is especially important for the mining industry in Chihuahua, where a fundamental economic activity for the state. “We want to talk about open data. We have a platform that works very well and has millions of entries. However, now that we are upgrading it, we will think about what is important for the people we share information with,” 

Francisco Acuña, Commissioner, INAI, said that he took the initiative to listen to relevant stakeholders related to key economic activities represented on the National Transparency Platform (SNT). In the case of Mexico’s north, the dialogue was focused on mining and construction. These dialogues were focused on getting to know stakeholder perspectives to develop adequate open data platforms and also contribute to fighting misinformation about industries. “We need clarity, the data should be understood because mining operators are not destroying the environment, they are not taking away all the gold and silver that the Spaniards could not find 400 years ago. They are no renegades when it comes to the tax authorities, either. They contribute to the GDP. Therefore, they need to be heard to defeat the misconceptions created around the mining industry,” Acuña said. 

Chihuahua’s Minister of Public Administration, María Álvarez, said that the main challenge for local authorities is to improve transparency and information access in Chihuahua to make it more democratic. She highlighted the importance of the private sector’s support, as it would be beneficial for both people and companies to know more about public and private expenditure. “The priority of a humanist government is to maintain a strong relationship with people. Therefore, open data is fundamental,” Álvarez said.