The fourth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AMMIN 4) in Bali, Indonesia, on November 28, praised the launch of the ASEAN Mineral Database and Information Systems (AMDIS) that aim for sustainable development of the bloc’s minerals sector.

In a Joint Statement issued on the day, participants reviewed the implementation of the cooperation activities reflected in the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan (AMCAP) in the 2011-2015 period, particularly the measures carried out under the strategic priorities, such as facilitating and enhancing trade and investment in minerals and promoting sustainable minerals development socially and environmentally.

In order to provide support for effective implementation of the AMCAP 2011-2015, the ministers encouraged ASEAN member states to support the ASEAN Mineral Trust Fund (AMTF) by giving their contributions to the Fund.

To speed up minerals cooperation, the ministers tasked senior officials to build the next ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan for the period 2015-2019, which is expected to be announced at the next AMMIN, which will take place in Laos in 2015.

In his opening speech, Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik called on ASEAN member nations to further strengthen linkages, especially in ensuring sustainability in developing mineral resources as well as promoting investment and trade activities in the field, towards the establishment of ASEAN Economic Community by 2015.

A Vietnamese delegation to the conference was led by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Linh Ngoc.-VNA