In his remarks, Ambassador LEE Jang-keun highlighted the significance of the project, stating, “Korea and ASEAN have come up with this project, aiming at contributing to the stable supply of critical minerals, to the development of specialized personnel, the establishment of databases, and to the enhancement of technical capabilities related to critical minerals for ASEAN countries.”

Deputy Secretary General Satvinder Singh emphasized the shared commitment of Member States in his address: “The Member States have shared commitment to develop our mineral resources and contribute to securing an adequate and steady supply of metals and minerals to meet rising minerals demand and to fuel industrial expansion across ASEAN and boost the region’s competitiveness in the global markets.” He also expressed optimism about the project's benefits, noting that it will expand ASEAN's knowledge in the critical mineral field.

By implementing this cooperation project in critical minerals, ASEAN and the Republic of Korea have demonstrated that their cooperation is constantly evolving to meet global challenges and trends. This initiative reflects their commitment to exploring new areas of collaboration to enhance the ASEAN-Korea dialogue partnership.

Following the successful launch, the 1st Technical Workshop was held from 1-3 July, and the 1st Data-base Workshop took place from 4-5 July 2024. These workshops are the first in a series of designed activities to build capacity and foster collaboration among ASEAN Member States in the management of critical minerals.

The continued efforts under this project will significantly contribute to the sustainable management of critical minerals, supporting the environmental and economic goals of the ASEAN region. The ASEAN-Korea partnership continues to thrive, setting a precedent for future collaborations in other vital sectors.