Study Group Membership

 Procedure

The Study Group is an intergovernmental organisation and membership is open to any government officially recognised by the United Nations. The membership process is as follows:

• An official letter stating a government’s intention to join the Group should be sent to the Secretary-General.
• The first year’s membership fees for the country in question will then be calculated in accordance with the Group’s rules and an invoice for the appropriate amount submitted for payment.
• The government would become a member of the Group upon the confirmed receipt of the invoiced amount in the Group’s designated bank account.

Benefits

 Benefits of Study Group membership include the following:

• the right to participate in the management of the Group with all the advantages attached to full membership including discussions of the work programs of the Group’s Committees and taking part in the decision-making process to implement the work program.
• the right to attend all of the Group’s committee meetings (normally twice per year) and to have access to unique networking opportunities with other governments and industry experts as well as information provided at these meetings.
• access to detailed world market information, market forecasts, world class statistics, relevant environmental, health and safety regulations on metals worldwide and detailed data on global production facilities.
• the right to obtain free copies of all Study Group publications and access to the Group’s comprehensive databases for the government and subscriptions at a preferential rate for national companies.
• members can use the Group to put forward their views to external bodies such as the OECD, Basel Secretariat, United Nations and London Metal Exchange (LME).
• member countries may request that work be undertaken on special issues or projects of general interest.
• the right to participate in any of the intergovernmental consultations that may be held from time to time within the framework of the Study Groups.
• the right to propose and participate in Joint Study Group Seminars that cover a wide range of topical issues related to base metals.
• the right to host future ILZSG special seminars.
• access to the Group’s worldwide network of government and industry contacts.
• support of the ILZSG secretariat with the regard to requests for information and data and the opportunity to contribute to improving transparency in the global lead and zinc markets.
• the ILZSG is an independent generator of authoritative, reliable, independent and credible statistical data that facilitates transparency and efficient operation of the global lead and zinc markets to the direct economic benefit of all lead and zinc producing and consuming countries.
• the Group provides an umbrella for industry to work together on issues of mutual concern such as improving market data and addressing regulatory issues, free of antitrust constraints.
• the Group also provides a forum for governments and industry to address policy issues together.