BAGUIO CITY- Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Sweden in Manila Harald Fries emphasized on Tuesday (Nov. 19) that participating in the 70th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference is one aspect in partnering with the Philippines.
In a press conference, Ambassador Fries said ‘’Swedish companies presence during the conference will showcase their technology in the area of sustainable mining.’
‘We are present in full force with the Embassy of Sweden, the academe, and representatives of the Lulea University of Technology,’’ said Ambassador Fries.
‘’ Baguio is my favorite spot in the Philippines,’’ Ambassador Fries earlier said ,receiving a warm applause from the audience including representatives from the mining sector, Itogon Mayor Bernard Waclin and members of the media.
‘’Sweden has identified responsible mining as one sector where we believe that we can partner with the Philippines and offer know-how and technology,’ said Ambassador Fries, adding that Sweden has significantly mining for more than a thousand years, and major supplier of iron, ore, copper and many other minerals.
The Swedish official stressed ‘’recent decades focusing on environmentally, socially responsible mining.’
Swedish Trade Commissioner to the Philippines Johan Lennefalk stressed Sweden’s commitment to sustainable and responsible mining and its role in addressing climate change and fostering economic growth.
He noted that Philippines has about one trillion US dollars in mineral deposits and only three percent has mining contracts , thereby, ‘’strong opportunity to develop the mining industry in a sustainable way.’
In October this year, The Embassy of Sweden in Manila and Business Sweden signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) to promote safe, environment- friendly and economically-viable mining practices. By Primo Agatep/ABN
