KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is spearheading several initiatives, including the ASEAN Mineral Investment Forum (AMIF) 2026, to strengthen regional cooperation across the mineral value chain and promote sustainable development.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup highlighted the initiative during the High-Level Ministerial Roundtable held in conjunction with the World Mining Congress (WMC) 2026 in Lima, Peru.
He said AMIF 2026, which will bring together policymakers, investors, industry leaders and technical experts from around the world, is scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur in November in line with Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN mineral cooperation this year.
The forum will focus on critical minerals, sustainable mining practices, investment facilitation, geoscience collaboration and downstream value-added development, while promoting responsible investment, resilient supply chains and the growth of high-value industries across ASEAN.
"We believe resilient mineral supply chains require international cooperation, and Malaysia supports transparent, inclusive and mutually beneficial collaboration frameworks," he said in a statement today, while welcoming the participation of international mineral industry players, government agencies and financial institutions.
Arthur said his participation in the WMC 2026 ministerial roundtable helped strengthen Malaysia's visibility and role in international discussions on critical mineral development, global supply chain security and sustainable mining practices.
The meeting brought together ministers, policymakers, industry representatives and international organisations to discuss the development of critical minerals, global supply chains and sustainable mining in support of the global energy transition.
Participants agreed that demand for critical minerals would continue to rise in tandem with the growth of green technologies, renewable energy, electric vehicles (EVs) and artificial intelligence (AI).
They also agreed that mineral-producing countries should place greater emphasis on processing and downstream activities to increase value addition and domestic economic returns, while ensuring mining development remains balanced with environmental protection.
The discussions further underscored the importance of strengthening investor confidence through efficient regulatory systems, faster licensing processes and community engagement, as well as leveraging AI, automation, digital geological data and real-time monitoring systems to improve mining industry efficiency.
-- BERNAMA
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