Revenue Watch Institute has applauds President Obama’s decision to apply a new standard of transparency to oil, gas and mining revenues from federal lands. Speaking at the formal launch of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Tuesday, an initiative of governments and civil society to advance open government around the world, President Obama said the U.S. would implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). More than 35 countries participated in EITI, which requires companies to publish payments made to governments in exchange for oil, gas and minerals, and governments, in turn, to publish what they receive from companies. “Applying EITI in the U.S. will increase public trust in the government’s management of federal resources and improve the quality of that management,” said Karin Lissakers, director of Revenue Watch. “The United States last year broke new ground in passing strong disclosure requirements for oil, gas and mining companies through the Dodd-Frank Act. President Obama’s decision to implement EITI shows the government intends to meet the same standard.” “EITI creates a platform to provide citizens clear information on government receipts,” Lissakers said. “It’s a critical service for the American public in particular as debates over the federal deficit and the tax contributions of energy companies intensify.” The OGP, which President Obama launched last year, is co-chaired by the United States and Brazil and has inspired more than 40 governments to expand their commitments to openness. Lissakers said, “We hope that the OGP will be a catalyst for globalizing the highest standards of transparency in natural resource management.” Other nations have pledged greater openness about natural resources. Indonesia has committed itself to publishing revenue information about oil, gas and coal activities through EITI implementation, and to making public more information on licensing and land use public. Mexico will publish "geological and geophysical information" related to fossil fuels, to allow greater public scrutiny.