Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office at the 4th Meeting APEC Ministers Responsible for Mining at St. Petersburg, Russia

The 4th meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Mining (MRM4) was held in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation on the 27th - 28th June 2012, where Brunei Darussalam are among 21 APEC Member Countries and other invited participants attending the conference. The conference has drawn representatives of the APEC's key ministries and agencies responsible for the mining industry and metallurgy. It was chaired by His Excellency Denis Manturov, the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. Representing on behalf of the Government of Brunei Darussalam was The Honorable Pehin Dato (Dr.) Mohammad Yasmin Umar, the Minister of Energy at Prime Minister’s Office. Brunei delegation also attending was Haji Azhar Haji Yahya, Permanent Secretary (Upstream) at Energy Department, Prime Minister’s Office and Norenawaty Entunie, Charge’ d’ Affaires of Brunei Darussalam to the Russian Federation.

 The APEC Ministers Responsible for Mining industry discussed the global trends in ferrous and non-ferrous metals markets, prospects on increasing demand for metals and raw materials, as well as factors in better managing of resources, waste management and sustainable development, and ways to overcome potential threats due to imbalance of world markets of raw materials.

 The Ministers meeting also highlighted investment increment needed in APEC economies, exchange views on methods and means to intensify investments in the mining sectors and increase the share of innovative technology and ways increasing efficiency of the mining industry and metallurgy.

By enhancing cooperation among mining sectors, it is hope to stimulate growth and development of economies of member countries in creating job via mineral extraction, processing and exportation. By working together it also help out in enhancing effectiveness and sustainability of the mining sectors.

The conference also attracts the participation of business executives, representaitves of international organizations, the World Bank, the International research groups on copper, nickel, lead, and zinc, and the World Steel Association.  The Joint Statement of the APEC MRM4 endorsed at the end of the meeting, recognises and calls for sustainable development in mining through regional integration, fostering investment, increasing social responsibility and innovations and environmental advances.