APEC Mining Ministers to Meet Next Week

APEC Mining Ministers will meet next week to expand trade and investment in the mining sector, to remove behind-the-border barriers to resources trade and to ensure the long-term environmental sustainability of mining in the region.

Taking place in Perth, Western Australia, on February 12 to 16, the Third Ministers Responsible for Mining Meeting (MRM3) will also involve a high level of business sector interaction with ministers.

Under the theme "Improving leading practice sustainable development in mining" the meeting will build on the achievements of the previous two Mining Ministerial Meetings held in Korea and Chile to strengthen the mining sector.

Ministers will consider ways to remove behind-the-border measures that stifle and distort trade in minerals. Proactive actions that will be considered include efforts at regulatory reform, improving transparency and strengthening the capacity of government institutions to reduce these barriers.

Mining Ministers will also look at increasing technical cooperation to strengthen the mineral resources sector in all economies, to promote trade and enhance employment.

With environmental issues of major concern globally, ministers will also continue to discuss ways of ensuring mining materials are mined, used and disposed of responsibly.

The meeting will be chaired by Australia's Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, the Hon. Ian Macfarlane MP, and involve around 300 delegates from APEC mining economies including ministers, government representatives, industry executives and international NGO representatives

The APEC region includes the world's largest producers and consumers of minerals and accounts for more than 70% of global consumption of coal, iron ore and tin.

The venue for the meeting, Western Australia, is a resource-rich State that accounts for over half Australia's national mining investment.

Further information about MRM3 is available at: www.mrm3.apec.org