DPM heads for London meeting on Natural Resources
Thursday 31st March –The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Minerals and Natural Resources the Hon. Tom Masters will depart today for London where he intends to raise the portfolio of the Cook Islands seabed minerals to the international community.
He will be attending the Commonwealth Natural Resources Forum, hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat from 6th – 8th April 2011.
Accompanying him will be the Secretary of Marine Resources, Ben Ponia, who is also Chairman of the seabed minerals committee.
Both participants were invited in person by the Secretariat, at the Commonwealth Secretariat costs.
The Natural Resources Forum is a knowledge and capacity building initiative, to provide an opportunity for senior Government officials to share and learn with one primary aim – “to convert good practices and experiences into sustained wealth from the development and exploitation of natural resources”. Also attending at the forum, will be leading experts from the oil, gas and mining sectors.
Mr. Marsters notes that the demand for minerals is growing, especially from expanding economies like China and India and as sources on the land dwindles, the shift to mining from the ocean will accelerate. We must be positioned at the front door when that begins.
“Therefore the minerals on the ocean seabed will soon be needed to help make up the shortfall”.
According to Marsters “We want the international community to know that the Cook Islands has significant seabed mineral reserves and at the same time that our government is putting in place the framework to utilize our resources in a responsible manner. We need to market ourselves as well”
While in London the Cook Islands delegation will be holding side meetings with officials to discuss other matters including the institutional arrangements for the resident minerals adviser who will be funded by the Secretariat, updates on regulations to the Mineral Act and the draft fiscal report being prepared by the London School of Economics. - DPM Office Media Release

Headlines : Times 290 02 March 2009
- Lucky $1,000 winner
- Century old palm trees and the French connection
- Koutu Nui takes part in Raui meeting in Moorea
- WOM Award Dinner for Ake Hosea-Winterflood
- Island of Atiu to host Koutu Nui AGM in June 2009