A 2-day hybrid workshop on developing an ASEAN Mining Vision has commenced earlier this week in Kuala Lumpur with the objective of establishing a Mining Vision modeled on that of the continental Africa Mining Vision, which was established in 2009 by AU Member States.
The presentation of the AMV was made by interim Director Dr Marit Kitaw. In sharing the concept note and the AMV AMDC presentation for the ASEAN mining vision session, there was considerable interest, plus a lot of questions from countries such as Brunei, Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, etc and the ASEAN secretariat itself, They all were so eager to learn about Africa’s experience and how they can learn from it..
ASEAN is considered one of the largest markets in the world for the supply of mineral raw materials and the 14-member ASEAN Member States remain among the top global suppliers of major mineral and metal products. Trade in minerals accounted for $250 billion or close to 9% of ASEAN’s total trade in 2018. 21% of the trade in minerals is internal ASEAN trade.
ASEAN’s efforts around minerals pre-dates the African Union as they initiated cooperation in the minerals sector and was institutionalized back in August 2005 through a Ministerial Understanding on ASEAN Cooperation in Minerals. This came as a response to a specific mandate from the ASEAN Summit to encourage intra-ASEAN cooperation on minerals development. The Ministerial Understanding established the future basis of cooperation which aimed to
- develop the minerals sector to be an engine for greater economic growth and social progress in the ASEAN region,
- enhance trade and investment in the ASEAN minerals sector, and
- promote environmentally-sound and socially-responsible mineral development practices.
The year 2005 also saw the establishment of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AMMin) and the adoption of the first ASEAN sectoral plan for minerals or the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan 2005-2010 (AMCAP-I).
The narrative of ASEANs’ energy and synergy around minerals is predicated strongly on capacity-building across ASEAN Member States, including in areas such as geological survey; resource assessment and mapping; mine rehabilitation and sustainable development; mineral mining licensing; mining business and investment opportunities for rare earth minerals; processing of tin and industrial minerals and geological and mineral resources development.
Unlike with AU Member States, these capacity building initiatives have been generously-supported by Member States themselves and by partner organizations and stakeholders.
At EBN, we are confident AMDC will look forward to a successful 2-day workshop that will underscore the importance of the AMV model as one worthy of emulation, support, but most importantly, execution at the shortest possible time.
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