www.ferro-alloys.com:The Philippines will lift economic growth rate beyond seven percent by unleashing the huge potential of mining and revitalizing the steel industry, according to a Filipino expert.

Dr. C.P. David, Executive Director of The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and concurrently convenor of the Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST), said having a strong mining and steel sector is crucial for the development of the economy.

“Inconsistent policies and the lack of a long-term development agenda for the country’s natural resources has delayed the efficient harnessing of an estimated US$1.4 trillion in mineral reserves, hence we see the urgent need to partner with the mining industry in a series of research projects to develop a long-term national roadmap that will integrate the development of mining, steel and other downstream industries,” said David.

 “This potential will have a multi-industry multiplier effect that would benefit a wide spectrum of the economy in terms of jobs, revenues, and taxes for the government,” he added.

• [Editor:Licaixia]