ERIA Co-organises Regional Workshop to Advance ASEAN Critical Minerals Strategy

Jakarta, 1-3 June 2026: ERIA co-hosted the Second Regional Workshop on Priority Economic Deliverable (PED) No. 6: ASEAN Critical Minerals Strategy for Regional Resilience and Sustainable Growth in Jakarta, Indonesia, in support of the Philippines' ASEAN Chairship in 2026.

The workshop brought together minerals focal points and representatives from relevant line ministries across ASEAN Member States (AMS). The event was organised by ERIA in collaboration with the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the ASEAN Secretariat, with support from the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development (IGF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The European Commission participated as an invited organisation.

Serving as a key platform for technical exchange and policy dialogue, the 3-day workshop aimed to validate technical outputs, incorporate cross-sectoral perspectives, and advance the development of a regional policy brief on critical minerals.

Building on the outcomes of the First Regional Workshop held in March 2026, participants reviewed and refined the proposed framework for identifying critical minerals in ASEAN. Discussions focused on validating the criteria framework, reviewing the proposed regional taxonomy and methodology, and refining a common regional definition of critical minerals. The workshop also featured a presentation by the European Commission on its approach to critical raw materials assessment and policy development, providing comparative insights to inform ASEAN's deliberations.

A key feature of the workshop was the participation of representatives from trade and investment, industry, and fiscal and royalty authorities alongside ASEAN minerals focal points. Through country presentations and interactive discussions, participants exchanged views on national policies, governance arrangements, priority sectors, and opportunities for regional co-operation. These exchanges helped ensure that the emerging framework reflects both technical considerations and broader economic and policy objectives.

On the final day, ASEAN minerals focal points undertook a technical validation of the core outputs developed during the workshop, including the proposed criteria framework, regional definition, taxonomy, and policy brief. Discussions also commenced on the development of an ASEAN Declaration on Critical Minerals Strategy and preparations for endorsement processes and subsequent regional consultations.

The workshop concluded with strong agreement on the next steps for refining the technical and policy outputs. Participants also committed to continuing consultations and engagement with relevant stakeholders to support the completion and delivery of the initiative's outputs later this year.

Through this workshop, ERIA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting ASEAN's efforts to strengthen regional resilience, promote sustainable mineral development, and enhance co-operation on strategic critical minerals issues.