ASEAN mineral strategy finalized in November

MANILA, Philippines — Asian countries are putting the finishing touches on a new five-year plan that will guide cooperation on mining, energy and disaster risk studies, with the document expected to be approved in November.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), which represents the Philippines in the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP), said yesterday that the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan was discussed and given focus during the 2nd CCOP Strategic Plan Working Group Meeting held from Sept. 10 to 11 in Bangkok, Thailand.

“Members engaged in detailed discussions and reached consensus on the vision, mission, strategic aims and objectives for the next five years,” MGB said in a statement, signaling continued Philippine participation in the drafting of the regional plan.

The session built on earlier discussions during the first working group meeting and incorporated insights from members across the region.

MGB said the five-year plan is on track for review and approval at the group’s 85th steering committee meeting scheduled on Nov. 7 in Vientiane, Laos.

The preparation of the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan is progressing on schedule, according to CCOP Technical Secretariat director Yongzheng Ma.

MGB also said that the development of the Strategic Plan 2026–2030 represents a significant step toward fostering a more inclusive and resilient East and Southeast Asia through enhanced international cooperation in geoscience.

According to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the bloc is among the world’s largest markets for mineral raw materials with member states ranking among the top global suppliers of major mineral and metal products.

In 2018, trade in minerals reached $250 billion, or nearly nine percent of ASEAN’s total trade, with about 21 percent of that conducted within the region.

In the Philippines, the mining industry contributed about P170.3 billion ($3.1 billion at $1 = P55 exchange rate) to the economy in 2023, equivalent to roughly 0.7 percent of gross domestic product, based on data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Mineral exports accounted for around 9.6 percent of the country’s total shipments while the sector generated P48.8 billion ($887 million) in taxes, fees and royalties for the government.