APEC Energy, Mining Ministers to Meet in St Petersburg

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, June 22 (Bernama) -- APEC ministers will gather in St Petersburg, Russia, this weekend to assess the impact of the global economic landscape in the energy and mining sectors. They will also pursue policies that could enhance the region's sustainability and prosperity as the world’s biggest producers and consumers of related commodities. Trade and investment strengthening, improving supply chains, fostering innovation and better managing scarce resources will be among the focal points of the APEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting and Meeting for APEC Ministers Responsible for Mining. The meetings are part of a cluster of APEC events that will convene between June 24 and 30 in St Petersburg. "The APEC region is the primary catalyst and beneficiary of the trade in energy and mining and industries that are helping to deliver the resources and jobs needed to fuel member economies’ growth and development,” said the APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Muhammad Noor Yacob. "By continuing to work cooperatively to advance initiatives that could enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of these sectors and further APEC’s 2012 priorities, member economies are seeking to provide a significant boost to the region and bring potentially significant benefits for energy and mining stakeholders," said Muhammad Noor ahead of the meeting in a statement. Meanwhile, the APEC Women and Economy Forum will bring together policymakers and thought leaders from the private sector to explore women’s role in advancing innovative economic growth. Focuses will include the expansion of gender inclusiveness in science, education and an increasingly innovation-based global economy, enhancing female entrepreneurship and lessons that can be learnt from women who are making a difference to provide companies greater competitive advantage and increased prosperity in the APEC region. Other events that will be held in St Petersburg are APEC Health Working Group’s Health Policy Dialogue, APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum and APEC Senior Finance Officials’ Meeting. The meetings will include significant participation from the business community, researchers and key multilateral organisations. The results of the APEC ministerial meetings and related events will be tabled at the 2012 APEC Leaders' Summit in Vladivostok on Sept 8 and 9. -- BERNAMA