The PNG Government will push to host an APEC Mining Meeting in PNG as it prepares for the 2018 APEC Leaders Summit.
Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, says the hosting of the infrequent meeting will create opportunities for partnerships.
“As part of Papua New Guinea’s hosting of the APEC process, we will seek to host an APEC Mining Ministerial Meeting.
“There have only been three APEC Mining Ministerial Meetings in the past ten years. I see these meetings as essential for promoting co-operation and innovation in this sector,” O’Neil said.
The last APEC Ministers Responsible for Mining Meeting in 2014 saw member economies call for Closer Cooperation of the Mining Sector in the Asia-Pacific Region, Innovation-driven Growth, and Social Responsibility & Common Development.
According to the APEC around 70 per cent of all mining output is produced and consumed in APEC member economies.
Collectively, these resources play a role in everything from home construction to transportation and digital infrastructure, food production and healthcare.
APEC says the mining, mineral, and metal industries are of great importance to the APEC Region, with close to 75 per cent of all global mining trade and investment conducted within the APEC Region.