The Metallurgical Technology Division (MeTD) represented the Mines and Geosciences Bureau at the 2nd Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation (JCEC) Meeting between the Philippines and the Czech Republic, held on July 31, 2024, at the Sheraton Manila Hotel in Pasay City. MeTD was represented by Engrs. Roberto D. Caseros, Chris G. Arnejo, and Geleni Shalaine P. Bello.
The agenda of the meeting was to comprehensively discuss possible industrial and technical cooperations between the two countries in the areas of trade and investment relations, agriculture and food industry, manufacturing, healthcare industry and medical devices, energy, environmental affairs, resource-based concerns (mining), transportation, information technology – business process management, aerospace and space technologies, defense, education, and labor. The JCEC was presided by Ms. Marie Sherlyn D. Aquia, Director of the Department of Industry - Bureau of International Trade Relations of the Philippines, and Mr. Michal Horacek, Regional Specialist for ASEAN Countries of the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Czech Republic. Attendees in the JCEC were delegates from different government offices and business/private sectors of both concerned countries.
Engr. Caseros, OIC of the MeTD – Mineral Processing Research and Development Section, conveyed resource-based (mining) matters specifically on the policy direction for critical minerals and the essential support required for capacity building, exploration and mapping activities, technology transfer, and upgrading of research facilities related to processing and/or extraction of critical minerals. During the meeting, the various research and development projects undertaken by the Office on value addition of mineral resources were highlighted, along with its interest in welcoming potential research collaborations.
As indicated in the proceedings, both parties concurred that natural resource development is one of the key areas for commercial and industrial collaboration between the Philippines and the Czech Republic.
