Jakarta, 31 March 2026: ERIA organised the First Regional Workshop on Priority Economic Deliverable (PED) No.6: ASEAN Critical Minerals Strategy for Regional Resilience and Sustainable Growth, convened on 30–31 March 2026 under the Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 Chairship.

The workshop brought together mineral focal points from ASEAN Member States, with support from ERIA, the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP) also participated as an invited organisation. Guided by the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) and the ASEAN Secretariat, the workshop marked an important step in advancing key PED outputs, including the development of criteria, a regional definition, and a list of critical minerals, alongside a policy brief outlining strategic recommendations.

Opening remarks underscored the growing importance of critical minerals, not only as commodities but as essential inputs for the energy transition, digital infrastructure, and economic development. ASEAN’s strong resource base and expanding downstream capabilities position the region as a potential strategic hub in global supply chains. However, a coordinated regional approach remains essential to strengthen collective positioning and avoid fragmentation.

Over the 2-day workshop, participants worked toward establishing a common ASEAN framework for defining critical minerals and considered the potential structure of a regional critical minerals taxonomy. The regional definition was subsequently discussed, and the workshop concluded with strong engagement from participants and a shared commitment to continuing the process.

Consultations will be expanded to include relevant stakeholders, including from line ministries, private sector representatives, and other key stakeholders. The process will continue through a series of national consultations and subsequent regional workshops, with final outputs expected to be delivered later this year.