The first International Conference on Geology and Natural Resources of ASEAN (GeoASEAN 1) is taking place in Vietnam’s southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province on May 13 focusing on the mining of titanium.

More than 300 Government officials, scientists and business people from ASEAN member countries attended the event, which was held by Vietnam’s General Department of Geology and Minerals, as part of the ASEAN Mineral Cooperation Action Plan (AMCAP) 2011-2015.

The participants are from member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and countries which are strong in titanium exploration and exploitation including Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland and South Africa .

The event aims to discuss the exploration, exploitation, processing and use of titanium for sustainable socio-economic development and measures to mitigate impacts on the environment; as well as promote international cooperation in this sector.

At the conference, Vietnam also introduced its policies and regulations on minerals, titanium potential, and the industry’s development plan of the country.

Foreign delegates gave their assessment about the opportunities as well as challenges for the industry in Vietnam and shared their success stories.

Within the seminar’s framework, the delegates on May 14 will make a field trip to the titanium-zircon mine in southern Binh Thuan province.-VNA