The Expert Group is at present chaired by Chile. GEMEED organization structure comprises a Secretariat located at the Ministry of Mining of Chile, a Subgroup on Environmental Cooperation led by Japan, and two Steering Committees advising the development of two projects (led by Australia and Chile).
Dear Mr. Astorga,
1. What is GEMEED?
GEMEED is the Expert Group on Minerals and Energy Exploration and Development. The Group was formed in 1996, following a proposal by Chile and Korea under the auspices of the APEC Energy Working Group, in response to the importance of trade and cooperation in minerals and metals in the APEC Region. In effect, mining and its derivatives is a most important economic activity in the APEC Region. For example, of the total world metals supply, APEC member economies produce 82% of copper, 64% of gold, 66% of nickel, and 75% of zinc, capturing almost 75% of the world investment in mineral development and exploration. Thus, the work within GEMEED offers a significant opportunity to promote, discuss, and resolve issues linked to mining industries, such as technology, trade, investment, relationship with the environment and communities, exploration and development policies for minerals and metals, both within the Asia Pacific region as well as in a wider global context.
The objectives of the Expert Group take into consideration APEC¡¦s tenets and those of the Energy Working Group, underlying the promotion of sustained growth in the region:
1. Articulate, coordinate, and promote topics related to mining, bringing about the exchange of information associated to the supply side of minerals.
2. Establish new topics and initiatives within the frame of sustained development, promoting the applications of clean technologies and measures in order to mitigate or eliminate negative environmental and social impacts.
3. Promoting adequate access to markets for mining products.
4. Establishing relationships with international groups and business sectors related to mining in order to join efforts and enhance synergies.
The Expert Group is at present chaired by Chile. GEMEED organization structure comprises a Secretariat located at the Ministry of Mining of Chile, a Subgroup on Environmental Cooperation led by Japan, and two Steering Committees advising the development of two projects (led by Australia and Chile).
Since its start, GEMEED¡¦s agenda includes five annual meetings (Santiago, Seoul, Ottawa, Bangkok, Las Vegas), three Workshops on environmental cooperation themes (Tokyo, Santiago, Cairns), mining taxation (Santiago), Database (Canberra). It develops at present two projects namely the APEC Network on Minerals and Energy Data (www.anmed.org), and a Survey of factors influencing demand for minerals and metals in the APEC Region. The studies carried out within GEMEED include legal, economic, environmental, and policy matters. Several publications give account of the prolific work carried out during these years with the cooperation and involvement of all APEC member economies having interests on the supply as well as in the demand side of the mining business.
I would like to invite readers to visit the website of GEMEED www.gemeed.cl which provides a wide range of information on the Group¡¦s activities and accomplishments, as well as the access to documents and records of the meetings.
2. What is ECOW?
ECOW means the Environmental Cooperation Workshops, a series of meetings organized by the Subgroup on Environmental Cooperation, led by Japan within the scope of activities of GEMEED. There have been three ECOW¡¦s:
„« The first Environmental Cooperation Workshop (ECOW 97) in Tokyo gave rise to proposals leading to the formation of the Subgroup on Environmental Cooperation, and to the first Group¡¦s policies on the environmental issues surrounding mining activities.
„« The second ECOW 98, in Santiago, provided a vision related to environmental regulatory trends that are affecting access to metals and mineral markets.
„« The third ECOW 99 in Cairns provided a comprehensive approach to environmental matters, including economic, social, and environmental ones. Also it provided directives related to policies and visions linked to small scale mining activities.
Therefore, the ECOW are a essential part of GEMEED, and provide spaces for the discussion of the various elements involved in the mining business.
3. Why is this meeting in Acapulco relevant?
There are two meetings: the ECOW 2001, fourth environmental cooperation workshop, and the Sixth Plenary Meeting of GEMEED. In essence these meetings will provide a strong signal of coherent continuity to the work of GEMEED, and on the other hand will deliver an important linkage to the work to be done in relation to the preparatory work for the Earth Summit that will be held next year in Johannesburg, South Africa. The mining industry actually contributes to sustainable development and quality of life in many areas: economic, social, environmental, and an important task at this meeting is to deliver a proposal from member economies of APEC in this field.
