How information helps resource-rich nations benefit fully and fairly from extractives

For resource-rich countries to fully benefit from the bounty of their natural resources through fair negotiations, they must know exactly what have and how long these resources will last, according to an extractives industry expert.

This information allows policies to be adapted and integrated with the data to maximize revenues while making the benefits sustainable for the people through the establishment of future funds, Jürgen Reitmaier, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative senior adviser, told Devex Associate Editor Richard Jones in this video interview on the sidelines of the Annual Democracy Forum 2014 in Gaborone, Botswana.

Donors, he added, should be fully involved in the process for instance by helping set up geological surveys of countries for governments to negotiate from a position of strength.