On October 19, the workshop “Transparency in the extractive sector: tools and opportunities” was held in La Jagua de Ibirico, Cesar, with the objective of discussing the importance of transparency in the extractive industry. The first session was attended by representatives of UNDP, UNAD, Corpocesar and community leaders of the municipality, and the second session was attended by representatives of local institutions such as councilors and officials of the mayor’s office.

During the workshop, Fabio Velásquez, Executive President of the National Forum for Colombia Foundation, highlighted the relevance that transparency in the exploitation of natural resources has taken in the last decade, as well as the impact it has on the public debate. In addition to becoming a key factor for democracy in the country.

Andrés Hernández, Director of the Citizenship Area of Transparency for Colombia, also participated and emphasized the role of the Civil Society Roundtable for Transparency in the Extractive Industries in the framework of the EITI and presented the First EITI Colombia Report, focusing the results on the case of La Jagua.

The workshop highlighted the importance of transparency in this industry due to the large amount of income produced by extractive activities and the way in which this income is invested in social issues. For this reason, the participants obtained information on the royalties received by the municipality, how they have been distributed, which funds comprise them and how much money has been received by each of the funds.