The event, co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana, the Karaganda regional administration and Blago, a local non-governmental organization, brought together more than 30 participants, including representatives from government, NGOs, the private sector, international organizations and the media.

The participants discussed co-operation among stakeholders in such areas as the transparent management of extractive sector revenues and the introduction of sustainable development principles, including a human rights, labour and environmental protection perspective. Discussion on fighting corruption also was on the agenda. Participants focused on international best practices in forming civil society networks devoted to these issues and the establishment of a regional task force in the Karaganda region to monitor the implementation of development projects.

"The workshop explored opportunities to increase transparency and achieve a sustainable development path with the equal involvement of all stakeholders in the decision-making process," said Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. "The accountability of the extractive industry revenues is one of the key issues we would like to look at as part of the co-operation among government bodies, extractive industry companies and civil society."

Rassul Urazgulov, the Deputy Akim of Karaganda Oblast, added: "Adherence to the principles of transparency, sustainable development and open dialogue on the part of three key stakeholders - authorities, business and civil society - is a precondition for fostering steady industrial growth and the well-being of present and future generations. To make this happen, we will have to shift from our current efforts to implement the International Organization for Standardization and Occupational Health and Safety Management standards, to a new phase encompassing the adoption of modern managerial techniques based on the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative and the UN Global Compact."

The workshop is part of the OSCE Centre in Astana’s work to promote sustainable development with a focus on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and anti-corruption activities in Kazakhstan.