news
Download our 2012 Event ScheduleWe have an exciting lineup of mining seminars and educational courses for 2012. Click here to download a pdf of our complete schedule of upcoming events.
mineLatinAmerica announced for November 1, 2012 in Toronto
January 10, 2012 - Building on the success of our mineSouthAmerica and mineMexico seminar series over the past two years we are pleased to announce that we are combining these seminars into a new, expanded full-day event - mineLatinAmerica - taking place in Toronto on Thursday November 1, 2012. The event features updates by public and private mining companies on their Latin American projects and technical presentations on doing business in Latin America's mining industry (legislation, financing mining projects, risk mitigation, CSR, etc.) by expert advisors and service providers to the mining industry (banks, law firms, engineering firms) as well as country specific overviews. Also included is a mini-trade show and networking lunch, coffee and cocktail breaks. Click here for more information on participating as a presenter or sponsor.
Peru's Humala signs bills to raise mining taxes
September 28, 2011 - Peru's President Ollanta Humala signed three bills raising taxes and royalties on the lucrative mining sector into law on Wednesday. The government plans to use the new source of funds, estimated at $1 billion per year at current metals prices, to build roads and schools to fight rural poverty. It says the taxes won't affect the vital sector's competitiveness. Read the Reuters article.
Peru Congress may overhaul mining taxes today
September 22, 2011 - Peru's Congress could vote as early as today to overhaul royalties and taxes in the vital mining sector as a bill backed by the left-wing government gathers broad support, the head of the legislature's economy committee said this week. A joint committee of the economy committee and the mines and energy committee approved the bill late on Monday after lawmakers agreed to a request from the country's mining association to prevent future presidents from changing the tax rates via decree. That will ensure that, once implemented, the new tax and royalty rates will be difficult to change. The subject will be discussed at our Focus on Peru seminar in Toronto on October 5.
Exporting the Canadian Advantage - CIM article on CSR in Africa
August 24, 2011 - Canada's cultural mosaic is a resource to develop says Chamber board member Radcliffe Dockery in this article by Peter Caufield for CIM magazine.
Vancouver CSR seminar report
May 2, 2011 - Sixty-five participants took in fourteen presentations covering a range of topics at the Chamber's Vancouver Risk Mitigation and CSR in Africa and Emerging Markets seminar in Vancouver on April 28. Read the full report with links to the program and presentations.
"Experts debate solutions surrounding CSR initiatives" reports CIM Magazine
January 25, 2011 - Virginia Heffernan of CIM Magazine covered the Chamber's 4th Annual Risk Mitigation and CSR in Africa and Emerging Markets seminar with Premier Sponsor Hatch held on October 27, 2010 in Toronto. Read the article as well as a second one titled "NGO's don't all bite say CSR experts."
"What the World Really Needs Now" - CSR approaches in various countries
January 10, 2011 - Read this interesting article in the December 2010 issue of Canadian Mining Journal on CSR approaches in various countries including Argentina, Brazil and Chile by CMJ Foreign Correspondent and CSR advisor Jaquelina Jimena.
2011 Calendar of Events
December 20, 2010 - Download our one-page 2011 Calendar of Events for our international seminars (including mineSouthAmerica, mineMexico and MASTERMINING) by On the Ground Group or our African seminars by MineAfrica.
Download the presentations from the 4th Annual Risk Mitigation and CSR in Africa and Emerging Markets seminar
November 1, 2010 - Eighteen presenters representing mining companies, CSR experts, NGO's and Canadian government officials covered a range of topics as varied as the issues surrounding CSR including financing requirements for mining companies, equator principles, China in Africa, working with NGO's to implement effective CSR programs and Bill C-300. Read the report with links to the program, presentations and photo gallery.
A powerful program for Risk Mitigation and CSR seminar
October 22, 2010 - Corporate Social Responsibility is a hot topic these days and we are pleased to be a partner in this full-day seminar on October 27 that will explain how you can mitigate your risk in emerging markets through the implementation of effective CSR programs. See the program.
Mexico is hot - mineMexico seminar draws 115 participants
September 28, 2010 - Read the seminar report with links to the presentations, program and photo gallery.
International SOS sponsors mineMexico seminar
September 14, 2010 - International SOS, the world's leading provider of medial assistance, international healthcare, security services and outsourced customer care is sponsoring mineMexico on September 27. Ken Walton, Security Manager - Americas will also present at the seminar.
Macleod Dixon opens Colombia office
September 12, 2010 - Macleod Dixon LLP, sponsor of On the Ground Group's mineSouthAmerica and mineMexico seminars has opened its seventh office worldwide, and third in Latin America, in Bogotá, Colombia. In concurrence with this read their Legal Alert relating to the pending Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA).
"Latin America mine seminar series gains momentum in Toronto"
August 25, 2010 - Read Liezel Hill's article in Mining Weekly on On the Ground Group's mineSouthAmerica and mineMexico series.
Colombia joins key Latin American players
August 9, 2010 - Read Michael Schwartz's article covering the key messages from our June 17 Focus on Colombia seminar that appears in the August 2010 issue of CIM Magazine.
Attracting Finance from Canada
July 27, 2010 - On the Ground Group President Bruce Shapiro delivered a keynote address in South Africa on Canada as a source of finance. While the focus of the presentation was on Africa he made some interesting comparisons on the attractiveness of Africa versus South America. Download his presentation.
Colombia to auction gold mining areas
July 23, 2010 - The Colombian government is ready to auction some gold, iron and coal mining areas in the second half of this year, said Mario Ballesteros, the head of Ingeominas, Colombia's mining regulatory agency. Read the article. And according to Mining Minister Hernan Martinez investment in Colombia's mining and energy industry is expected to reach $57 billion over the next five years.
Canadian exploration companies lead exploration investment in Mexico
June 22, 2010 - 70% of mining exploration investment in Mexico is by foreign companies, of which 75% are Canadian. On the Ground Group's next seminar - mineMexico - to be held in Toronto on Sep. 27 will provide a platform for companies to promote their Mexican projects to a focussed, senior-level financial audience with a specific interest in mining in Mexico. Download the Presenter Opportunity Brochure.
Focus on Colombia features technical content on doing business in Colombia's mining industry
June 21, 2010 - Eighty-five participants learned about Colombia's mining policy, financing mining projects in Colombia, getting your social license to operate and the technical aspects about doing business in Colombia's mining industry at our second mineSouthAmerica seminar on June 17. Download the presentations.
Macleod Dixon named Global Mining Law Firm of the Year 2010
June 2, 2010 - Macleod Dixon, premier sponsor of On the Ground Group's mineSouthAmerica seminar series, has been named Global Mining Law Firm of the Year 2010 in the Who's Who Legal Awards. "This is the first time Macleod Dixon has won the award, and the consistently positive feedback we received reflects its exceptional individual and collective talent. We have no hesitation in declaring it the leading firm for mining expertise," said UK-based Who's Who Editor in Chief Callum Campbell. Read more.
Toronto temperatures hit record highs last week - so did mining interest in Peru
June 1, 2010 - On the Ground Group launched its mineSouthAmerica seminar series: Focus on Peru with Premier Sponsor Macleod Dixon LLP in Toronto on May 27. The seminar featured project updates by mining companies active in Peru and technical presentations by advisors to the mining industry to an audience of senior-level financial and mining executives - all with a specific interest in mining investment in Peru. Read the one page seminar report with links to the presentations and photo gallery.
Peru will attract US$14 billion in foreign investment for mining projects this year
May 19, 2010 - Peru's Mining Ministry says Peru will attract US$14 billion in foreign investment for mining projects this year in an article by Mineweb. Peru's gold mining sector GDP soared 260% in two decades. Peru's Minister of Mining and Energy Pedro Sanchez said the projects are already in advanced stages and that several gold projects are among them. The minister anticipates that Peru will eventually rank among the top five gold producing nations. Peru is now the sixth ranking gold producer and the world's number one silver miner.
Colombia to attract $4.5 billion for gold mining over 10 years
April 20, 2010 - Gold mining companies will invest as much as $4.5 billion over the next ten years in Colombia, attracted by rich unexplored areas and soaring prices, the head of the country's Asomineros miners group told Reuters. "Foreign direct investment in mining will continue. The potential is huge," Silvana Giaimo, Colombia vice minister of mines and energy said, noting that Canadian companies are especially interested in exploring precious metals in Colombia. Read the Mineweb article.
Fraser Institute Releases 2009/2010 Survey of Mining Companies
April 16, 2010 - Read the Fraser Institute ranking of international mining jurisdictions.
On the Ground Group launches new website
March 15, 2010 - www.onthegroundgroup.com was officially launched during PDAC. The clean, minimalist site is designed to allow users easy navigation for information on upcoming or past seminars.
Macleod Dixon LLP sponsors mineSouthAmerica seminar series
February 12, 2010 - Leading international law firm Macleod Dixon LLP has taken the Premier Sponsorship position in On the Ground Group's new mineSouthAmerica seminar series. The series, hosted in Toronto, will feature presentations by mining companies, service providers and advisors to the mining industry active in specific South American countries. Initial seminars will focus on Colombia and Peru.
MineAfrica Inc. launches international division - On the Ground Group.
February 10, 2010 - Leading African mining investment promoter MineAfrica Inc; has introduced a new division - On the Ground Group - to produce its internationally focussed mining investment seminars. The MineAfrica brand is very strong and well recognized but our expansion into other mining jurisdictions outside of Africa dictated a need for a new brand for our non-African focussed seminars. The seminars include the current "Mining Deal Exchange: Mining Financing Opportunities through the TSX Venture CPC Program" which features mining projects from all mining jurisdictions and our new mineSouthAmerica series with Premier Sponsor Macleod Dixon LLP.
