APEC Mining Ministers' Meeting, Santiago, Chile, June 15-17: Sustainable Development & Free Trade and Investment in the Mining Sector Key Issues

Mining Ministers from APEC Member Economies are meeting in Chile over three days to address issues impacting on the Asia-Pacific mining sector.

This will be the first-ever meeting of APEC Ministers responsible for mining and is expected to provide strategic direction, priorities and long-term vision for the work of APEC within the minerals and metals sector. With the large volume of global metal and mineral extraction and consumption taking place in the APEC Region, the meeting will produce globally significant results.

As a percentage of global production volumes APEC Member Economies are responsible for 64% of gold, 50% of bauxite, 66% of nickel, 82% of copper and 75% of zinc.

Key issues for mining ministers include sustainable development for the mining sector and trade and investment liberalization and facilitation in metals and minerals markets.

In terms of sustainable development the meeting will provide an opportunity to analyze initiatives to enhance the sustainability of the mining sector through responsible research and development. This is particularly relevant to areas involving new technologies and scientific cooperation which are essential to ensure the well being of the industry and for the development of new metal and mineral based products.

The liberalization of trade and investment in the fields of metals and minerals is also important to the development of the mining sector. In line with APEC's free trade and investment goals, Ministers will analyze obstacles to free trade, investment barriers and also discuss future possibilities related to double taxation agreements.

The Mining Ministers' Meeting will begin in Santiago on Tuesday, June 15, before moving north to Chile's most important mining region on the following day. On June 16 Ministers will meet in the city of Antofagasta, then on June 17 ministers will visit the Chuquicamata mine and the city of Calama before returning to Santiago.