Strengthening its position as a global hub for sustainable mining, the Philippines successfully hosted a high-level Business and Investments Forum on the sidelines of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) 2026 convention.
The forum brought together Canadian institutional investors, mining executives, and technology providers to accelerate bilateral cooperation in mineral processing and the critical minerals supply chain.
Led by the Board of Investments (BOI) and supported by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Toronto, the Philippine delegation presented a unified front to promote the archipelago’s vast untapped mineral wealth as a cornerstone for the global energy transition.
The forum featured two dynamic panel discussions designed to bridge the gap between Philippine resource potential and Canadian technical expertise. The sessions focused on three strategic pillars:
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ESG-Aligned Extraction: Highlighting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) commitment to world-class environmental, social, and governance standards.
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High-Value Processing: Moving beyond raw ore exports to establish domestic processing plants for nickel, copper, and cobalt.
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Industrial Ecosystems: Integrating mining into the broader manufacturing sector, specifically for Electric Vehicle (EV) battery production and renewable energy components. “The Philippines is not just looking for miners; we are looking for partners in sustainability,” the delegation emphasized. “By combining our mineral endowment with Canadian innovation, we can build a resilient, green supply chain that benefits both nations.”
The event was a collaborative effort involving the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, the DENR, and various industry leaders. These stakeholders underscored the Philippines’ readiness to offer fiscal incentives and streamlined regulatory pathways for investors focusing on “green” minerals.
The Philippines currently ranks among the world’s most highly mineralized countries. With the global demand for critical minerals projected to skyrocket by 2030, the Philippine government is aggressively promoting:
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Nickel & Copper Exploration: Essential for the global shift toward electrification.
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Sustainable Manufacturing: Leveraging the country’s young, skilled workforce to move up the value chain.
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Policy Stability: Recent reforms aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business and ensuring long-term project viability.
The forum concluded with several networking sessions, sparking preliminary discussions on potential joint ventures and technology transfer agreements that will be monitored by the PTIC and BOI in the coming months.
