Gold forum to seek enabling market policy

Come June 25-26, the first-ever West Africa gold conference hosted by Nigeria’s first gold refinery, Kian Smith Gold Refinery, in collaboration with Noemdek, a Nigeria-based international advisory company, will take place in the economic hub of the country, Lagos state.

The event, which was aimed at strengthening West Africa’s gold value chain, as well as enabling relevant policies and market infrastructure for the gold ecosystem by positioning Nigeria as pivotal to the sector’s development, will bring together 150 critical gold sector stakeholders from over 14 countries.

Themed: “Gold West Africa” conference, the event will help promote a strong West African public and private sector lobby around gold, put the region top of mind in gold mining, refining all that pertains to gold as well as spur economic growth for countries (Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Cote D’Ivoire etc) with gold.

According to the Managing Director of Kain Smith Trade & Co Limited, Mrs. Nere Teriba, the Nigerian narrative on gold is advancing from “gold exploration and mining to gold market and economy.”

She said: “The Gold West Africa Conference is focused on developing the gold value chain in the region towards establishing West Africa as a gold market centre.

“The development of the gold value chain in Nigeria has strong dependencies on gold, trade and monetary policies across ECOWAS and the geographical region of Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Economic & Sustainable solutions towards artisanal gold mining, trading, refining and creating gold products and markets can only be achieved when public and private stakeholders in the gold sector of West Africa jointly create the eco-system for the gold economy to thrive above ground.”

The co-host, of the conference, Mr. Kolade Apata, said: “For the folks who are fortunate enough to attend the conference, they will quickly realise the investment opportunities available with the launch of the Gold Refinery. For example, Nigeria could easily become the jewelry and gold trading hub in West Africa.