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Critical energy transition minerals
The expected surge in demand for critical energy transition minerals presents unique opportunities in developing countries endowed with such minerals to diversify their economies, overcome the limitations of commodity dependence, contribute to global supply chain resilience and ensure a just, equitable and sustainable green transition.
By moving up the value chain and diversifying within and beyond the value chain of critical energy transition minerals, these countries can capture more economic value from their resources, leading to greater economic stability. Value addition also enables them to play a greater role in global supply chains, reducing reliance on a few suppliers, mitigating geopolitical risks and supply chain vulnerabilities. However, the exploitation of such minerals has, to date, lacked cohesive global policy frameworks to align resource demand with sustainable development in producing countries. Effective governance is crucial.
UNCTAD has been playing an essential role as a key facilitator and secretariat co-leader of the United Nations Secretary-General's Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, leading efforts on benefit-sharing, local value addition, transparent trade and supporting justice and sustainability throughout critical mineral value chains. Discussions at the Global Commodities Forum will explore global solutions to ensure that the growing demand for critical energy transition minerals supports both reliable, resilient supply chains and sustainable development in producing countries.
Programme
Opening remarks:
- Pedro Manuel Moreno, Deputy Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Panel 1: Harnessing critical energy transition minerals for diversification and global supply chain resilience
Discussions at this panel will explore how the global surge in demand for critical energy transition minerals can be harnessed to support value addition, economic diversification and sustainable development in producing countries, while strengthening global supply chain resilience through effective governance and international cooperation.
Interactive discussion
Questions:
- How can the global trade system preserve its rules-based integrity while becoming more fit-for-purpose to support the development needs of producing countries, particularly by enabling value addition, diversification and industrial upgrading?
- Which global mechanisms can promote inclusive access to technologies that support not only responsible mining but also enable producing countries to diversify within and beyond the value chain, fostering innovation and structural transformation?
- How can international investment frameworks be reoriented to mobilize development-driven capital into value chains of critical energy transition minerals, particularly for midstream and downstream activities, while ensuring fair risk-sharing and safeguarding national development strategies?
- How can South–South and triangular cooperation be harnessed to build regional industrial ecosystems and shared value chains of critical energy transition minerals, strengthening collective capabilities, technological upgrading and equitable participation in global markets?
- What role can UNCTAD play in supporting developing countries in leveraging the development potential of critical energy transition minerals, to achieve structural transformation and sustainable development?
Speakers:
- Julien Paluku Kahongya, Minister of International Trade of the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Julia Imene-Chanduru, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Namibia to the United Nations at Geneva
- Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, Director General of International Trade Negotiation, Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia
- Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals Department, African Union Commission
Moderator:
- Luz María de la Mora, Director, Division on International Trade and Commodities
Format: Davos-style
[Panel 1 will be followed by Panel 2 in Concordia 1 from 16:30-18:00 hrs.]
Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno of Spain, is Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD.
He has over 20 years of experience of working for multilateral and intergovernmental organizations in programme, management and strategic positions both in the field and at headquarters.
He was Deputy Secretary-General of the Communication for Development Committee at the Spanish National Commission with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (1999-2004), and for the United Nations Development Programme, at the Country Office in Ecuador and, in New York City, as part of the Human Development Report team, at the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean and at the Executive Office.
In 2014, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Ibero-American Conference in Madrid, where he coordinated key political processes and South-South cooperation projects.
In September 2021, he was named Chief of Staff and Director of the Office of the Secretary-General of UNCTAD.
Julien Paluku Kahongya is a Congolese politician, currently serving as Minister of International Trade of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a position he has held since May 2024.
Prior to his current position, he served as Minister of Industry from 2019 to 2024, during which time he promoted the country's industrial revival through ambitious policies such as the creation of Special Economic Zones.
From 2007 to 2018, he led the province of North Kivu as governor, in a particularly complex context marked by security and economic challenges. He also served in the National Assembly in 2011, 2018 and 2023, and in the Provincial Assembly from 2006 onwards.
His career began in local government: he was administrator of the Lubero territory, then successively mayor of the cities of Butembo and Beni between 2003 and 2006.
Julien Paluku holds a Master's degree in Political and Administrative Sciences from the University of Kinshasa. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Health and Community Development from the Free University of the Great Lakes, a background that reflects his commitment to human and institutional development.
Ambassador Julia Imene-Chanduru currently serves as the Acting Deputy Executive Director in the Department of Multilateral Relations at the Ministry of International Relations and Trade of the Republic of Namibia.
She previously served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, and to the Swiss Confederation, a position she held from January 2021 to August 2025. Prior to that, she was the Deputy Permanent Representative of Namibia to the United Nations in New York from 2018 to 2020.
Her diplomatic assignments include service at the Embassy of the Republic of Namibia in Washington, D.C. (2007–2011).
Ambassador Imene-Chanduru joined the Namibian Foreign Service in 2004. Over the course of her career, she has accumulated over two decades of experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, public policy, international relations, and negotiations. She has previously headed the Divisions for the Americas, North Africa and the Middle East and has also provided executive and administrative support to the Minister and to the Executive Director of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation.
Ambassador Imene-Chanduru holds a Master of Science in International Public Policy from Queen Mary University of London, a Master’s in International Service from the American University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Namibia. She has also completed professional training in Conflict Resolution, Negotiation and Mediation (DIRCO), Doing Diplomacy in the Age of Global Governance (Vienna School of International Studies), and Mastering Negotiations: Building Bridges Across Boundaries (Harvard University), among others.
A dedicated public servant, Ambassador Imene-Chanduru is passionate about the environment, as well as issues affecting women and girls. She is an avid reader and is married with two daughters.
Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono is the Director General of International Trade Negotiation at Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade, with a distinguished career in trade diplomacy and policy. He has held key roles as chief or lead negotiator in comprehensive economic partnership agreements with Canada, UAE, EFTA, and Australia, among others. Previously Indonesia’s Ambassador to the WTO, he has directed various departments in the Ministry of Trade including trade advocacy and international trade cooperation analysis. An expert in regional and bilateral trade negotiations, he holds a BA in management from Brawijaya University and a Master’s degree in management and industrial technology from Bandung Institute of Technology.
H.E. Mrs. Francisca Tatchouop Belobe (Equatorial Guinea, Central Region) was elected to lead the Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals (ETTIM) Department. Prior to this role, she served as Vice-President of the Commission of the Economic Community of East African States (ECCAS). She previously served as 2nd Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea’s National Assembly, and Minister and Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade, and Promotion of Small to Medium Enterprises. She holds a master’s degree in political science with a focus on development from the Johan Wolfgang von Goethe Universitat, and has extensive experience in national, regional, and international roles.
