Manila, Philippines, 16 October 2008:The Second ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AMMin) was held on 16 October 2008 in Manila, Philippines. H.E Mr. Jose L. Atienza, Jr, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines chaired the Meeting.
Opening Ceremony
The Second AMMin was officially opened by H.E. Mr. Alberto G. Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. In his Keynote Speech, he highlighted that the ASEAN region has a vast store of relatively untapped wealth of mineral resources, rich not only in terms of volume but also in terms of variety. These mineral resources could buffer the region in the current global economic crisis, both in terms of providing the necessary raw material inputs to the region’s industries and exports, so as to generate much needed revenues to jumpstart the ASEAN economies.
He welcomed the crucial initiatives of ASEAN Mineral Cooperation that can showcase the ASEAN community building. He expressed confidence, that for as long as ASEAN Member States can hold on strong to this sense of community, the region shall fully realise the potential of minerals sector, and support the common vision of a vibrant ASEAN.
Minerals Cooperation & ASEAN Economic Community
The Ministers welcomed the adoption of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore in November 2007 which aims to transform ASEAN into a single market and production base, a highly competitive economic region, a region of equitable economic development, and a region fully integrated into the global economy. The Ministers underscored the important supporting role of minerals sector in the AEC in stimulating and enhancing business and trade integration in the ASEAN Member States.
The Ministers affirmed their collective support to the establishment of AEC by 2015 and in this regard endorsed the AEC ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Scorecard 2009-2011. This scorecard serves as the integration plan for transforming the ASEAN minerals sector as a vital force for greater economic growth and social well being in the region through priority actions in facilitating and enhancing trade and investment in mineral, capacity building, strengthening the ASEAN minerals database system, promoting environmentally and socially sustainable mineral development, and enhancing private sector participation in mineral development.
Manila Declaration
The Ministers adopted the Manila Declaration on Intensifying ASEAN Minerals Cooperation to underscore the regional policy agenda to strengthen the ASEAN minerals cooperation, as well as pave the way for timely implementation of the cooperation programmes and activities under the AEC ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Scorecard. The declaration adopted the following policy directions:
· Ensure continuous development and utilisation of the mineral resources of the ASEAN Member States to enhance the sustainability of the resources and maximise the benefits to the community and the national economy, providing the necessary safety net and shield from global financial and economic turmoil;
· Accelerate cooperation to work towards the facilitation and enhancement of trade and investments in minerals through harmonisation of mineral policies, incentives and taxation, standardisation of mineral resource information, and systematised flow and exchange of resource and trade information;
· Encourage cooperation to develop policy guidelines and standards for ASEAN Best Mining Practices to promote environmentally and socially sustainable mineral development in the ASEAN region;
· Strengthen the development of institutional and human capacity building in the geological and minerals sector to ensure and adequately address the current needs and future demands of the ASEAN minerals industry and economy;
· Promote a platform for dialogue in which the private sector and ASEAN Dialogue Partners can more effectively and efficiently collaborate in mutually beneficial minerals cooperation activities in support of the building up of the ASEAN Community; and
· Foster concerted cooperation and joint approaches in international and regional fora in minerals such as in Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) activities and the forthcoming United Nations Committee on Sustainable Development’s Meeting in 2010, among others.
In supporting the implementation of joint activities and projects of the ASEAN Mineral programmes, the Ministers endorsed the Terms of Reference of ASEAN Mineral Trust Fund to support the cooperative programmes, projects and activities included under the AEC ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Scorecard 2009-2011 and any other future plans approved by the ASEAN Senior Officials on Minerals (ASOMM)/AMMin.
Priority Activities
The Ministers commended the senior officials for their work implemented in 2006-2008 and expressed appreciation to the progress of implementation of the various cooperative programmes in mineral information and database, sustainable mineral development, capacity building, and trade and investment in minerals. The Ministers were pleased to note the outcomes of the Workshop on Development of ASEAN Minerals Information and Database System and Seminar on Rules and Regulations for Minerals Resources Development in ASEAN held on 22-23 July 2008 in Bali, Indonesia.
The Ministers endorsed the priority projects submitted by the senior officials and looked forward to the implementation of agreed activities in 2009-2010 including, among others, on Mine Safety and Health. Reverse Logistics Management for Sustainable Minerals and Metals Circulation, and Workshop on Harmonising Mining and Protection of Natural Heritages.
Strengthening Cooperation with the Plus Three Countries
The Ministers adopted the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the ASEAN Plus Three Consultations which provides, among others, the collective platform to advance ASEAN Plus Three cooperation in mineral sector development.
The Ministers underscored the important role played by China, Japan and Republic of Korea in moving forward the Mineral Cooperation under the framework of ASEAN Plus Three and expressed their appreciation for the continued partnerships particularly on the successful implementations of: the ASEAN Workshop on Corporate Social Responsibility in Mining Industry held on 22 July 2008 in Bali, Indonesia; the Seminar on Mineral Resources Assessment and Management for Administration Department Officials for ASEAN Countries held on 7-26 May 2008 in Beijing, China; and the Minerals/Metals Recovery and Recycling Training Programme held on 14 January – 1 February 2008 in Tokyo, Japan.
The Ministers and their respective delegates expressed their profound appreciation to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines for the excellent arrangements and warm hospitality accorded to them during the Second AMMin.
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List of Ministers/ Heads of Delegates
1. H.E. Dato Dr. Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Development for Brunei Darussalam;
2. H.E. Mr. Ung Ponnara, Under Secretary of State, on behalf of H.E. Mr. Suy Sem, Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy for Cambodia;
3. Dr. Ir. Bambang Setiawan, Director General of Mineral, Coal and Geothermal, on behalf of H.E. Dr. Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources for Indonesia;
4. H.E. Mr. Somboun Rasasombath, Acting Minister of Energy and Mines for Lao PDR;
5. H.E. Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment for Malaysia;
6. U Than Myint, Director General, Department of Mines, on behalf of H.E. Brigadier General Ohn Myint, Minister, Ministry of Mines for Myanmar;
7. H.E. Mr. Jose L. Atienza, Jr, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources for the Philippines;
8. Mr. Chong Whye Keet, Economic Development Board, on behalf of H.E. Mr. Lim Hng Kiang, Minister of Trade and Industry for Singapore;
9. Mr. Monthop Valayapetre, Deputy Director General, on behalf of H.E. Police General Pracha Promnog, Minister of Industry for Thailand;
10. H.E. Mr. Nguyen Manh Hien, Vice Minister of Natural Resources and Environment for Viet Nam; and
11. Mr. Honorio R. Vitasa, Cluster Director, Bureau for Economic Integration and Finance, ASEAN Secretariat.
Opening Ceremony
The Second AMMin was officially opened by H.E. Mr. Alberto G. Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. In his Keynote Speech, he highlighted that the ASEAN region has a vast store of relatively untapped wealth of mineral resources, rich not only in terms of volume but also in terms of variety. These mineral resources could buffer the region in the current global economic crisis, both in terms of providing the necessary raw material inputs to the region’s industries and exports, so as to generate much needed revenues to jumpstart the ASEAN economies.
He welcomed the crucial initiatives of ASEAN Mineral Cooperation that can showcase the ASEAN community building. He expressed confidence, that for as long as ASEAN Member States can hold on strong to this sense of community, the region shall fully realise the potential of minerals sector, and support the common vision of a vibrant ASEAN.
Minerals Cooperation & ASEAN Economic Community
The Ministers welcomed the adoption of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore in November 2007 which aims to transform ASEAN into a single market and production base, a highly competitive economic region, a region of equitable economic development, and a region fully integrated into the global economy. The Ministers underscored the important supporting role of minerals sector in the AEC in stimulating and enhancing business and trade integration in the ASEAN Member States.
The Ministers affirmed their collective support to the establishment of AEC by 2015 and in this regard endorsed the AEC ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Scorecard 2009-2011. This scorecard serves as the integration plan for transforming the ASEAN minerals sector as a vital force for greater economic growth and social well being in the region through priority actions in facilitating and enhancing trade and investment in mineral, capacity building, strengthening the ASEAN minerals database system, promoting environmentally and socially sustainable mineral development, and enhancing private sector participation in mineral development.
Manila Declaration
The Ministers adopted the Manila Declaration on Intensifying ASEAN Minerals Cooperation to underscore the regional policy agenda to strengthen the ASEAN minerals cooperation, as well as pave the way for timely implementation of the cooperation programmes and activities under the AEC ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Scorecard. The declaration adopted the following policy directions:
· Ensure continuous development and utilisation of the mineral resources of the ASEAN Member States to enhance the sustainability of the resources and maximise the benefits to the community and the national economy, providing the necessary safety net and shield from global financial and economic turmoil;
· Accelerate cooperation to work towards the facilitation and enhancement of trade and investments in minerals through harmonisation of mineral policies, incentives and taxation, standardisation of mineral resource information, and systematised flow and exchange of resource and trade information;
· Encourage cooperation to develop policy guidelines and standards for ASEAN Best Mining Practices to promote environmentally and socially sustainable mineral development in the ASEAN region;
· Strengthen the development of institutional and human capacity building in the geological and minerals sector to ensure and adequately address the current needs and future demands of the ASEAN minerals industry and economy;
· Promote a platform for dialogue in which the private sector and ASEAN Dialogue Partners can more effectively and efficiently collaborate in mutually beneficial minerals cooperation activities in support of the building up of the ASEAN Community; and
· Foster concerted cooperation and joint approaches in international and regional fora in minerals such as in Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) activities and the forthcoming United Nations Committee on Sustainable Development’s Meeting in 2010, among others.
In supporting the implementation of joint activities and projects of the ASEAN Mineral programmes, the Ministers endorsed the Terms of Reference of ASEAN Mineral Trust Fund to support the cooperative programmes, projects and activities included under the AEC ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Scorecard 2009-2011 and any other future plans approved by the ASEAN Senior Officials on Minerals (ASOMM)/AMMin.
Priority Activities
The Ministers commended the senior officials for their work implemented in 2006-2008 and expressed appreciation to the progress of implementation of the various cooperative programmes in mineral information and database, sustainable mineral development, capacity building, and trade and investment in minerals. The Ministers were pleased to note the outcomes of the Workshop on Development of ASEAN Minerals Information and Database System and Seminar on Rules and Regulations for Minerals Resources Development in ASEAN held on 22-23 July 2008 in Bali, Indonesia.
The Ministers endorsed the priority projects submitted by the senior officials and looked forward to the implementation of agreed activities in 2009-2010 including, among others, on Mine Safety and Health. Reverse Logistics Management for Sustainable Minerals and Metals Circulation, and Workshop on Harmonising Mining and Protection of Natural Heritages.
Strengthening Cooperation with the Plus Three Countries
The Ministers adopted the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the ASEAN Plus Three Consultations which provides, among others, the collective platform to advance ASEAN Plus Three cooperation in mineral sector development.
The Ministers underscored the important role played by China, Japan and Republic of Korea in moving forward the Mineral Cooperation under the framework of ASEAN Plus Three and expressed their appreciation for the continued partnerships particularly on the successful implementations of: the ASEAN Workshop on Corporate Social Responsibility in Mining Industry held on 22 July 2008 in Bali, Indonesia; the Seminar on Mineral Resources Assessment and Management for Administration Department Officials for ASEAN Countries held on 7-26 May 2008 in Beijing, China; and the Minerals/Metals Recovery and Recycling Training Programme held on 14 January – 1 February 2008 in Tokyo, Japan.
The Ministers and their respective delegates expressed their profound appreciation to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines for the excellent arrangements and warm hospitality accorded to them during the Second AMMin.
---
List of Ministers/ Heads of Delegates
1. H.E. Dato Dr. Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Development for Brunei Darussalam;
2. H.E. Mr. Ung Ponnara, Under Secretary of State, on behalf of H.E. Mr. Suy Sem, Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy for Cambodia;
3. Dr. Ir. Bambang Setiawan, Director General of Mineral, Coal and Geothermal, on behalf of H.E. Dr. Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources for Indonesia;
4. H.E. Mr. Somboun Rasasombath, Acting Minister of Energy and Mines for Lao PDR;
5. H.E. Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment for Malaysia;
6. U Than Myint, Director General, Department of Mines, on behalf of H.E. Brigadier General Ohn Myint, Minister, Ministry of Mines for Myanmar;
7. H.E. Mr. Jose L. Atienza, Jr, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources for the Philippines;
8. Mr. Chong Whye Keet, Economic Development Board, on behalf of H.E. Mr. Lim Hng Kiang, Minister of Trade and Industry for Singapore;
9. Mr. Monthop Valayapetre, Deputy Director General, on behalf of H.E. Police General Pracha Promnog, Minister of Industry for Thailand;
10. H.E. Mr. Nguyen Manh Hien, Vice Minister of Natural Resources and Environment for Viet Nam; and
11. Mr. Honorio R. Vitasa, Cluster Director, Bureau for Economic Integration and Finance, ASEAN Secretariat.
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