Critical mineral supply chain needs collective global action: Vaishnaw

India urges global cooperation to build resilient critical minerals supply chains, focusing on rare earths, sustainable processing, technology sharing and recycling during a US ministerial meeting

India, along with countries across the globe, must work together to build a resilient critical minerals supply chain, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday.

 

Vaishnaw, who is in the US to attend a ministerial meeting focused on supply chain resilience for critical minerals, said participants discussed their experiences with rare-earth minerals, including steps being taken to improve refining and processing of mineral ores so these raw materials “can be secured over the long term sustainably.

 

Participating countries also discussed funding new projects, sharing technology, and recycling critical minerals from waste products.

 

“There were discussions and agreements around sharing research among different countries. It was a very positive meeting, with a focus on improving the quality and availability of critical minerals,” Vaishnaw told a news agency in the US.

   

The ministerial meeting was organised by US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, who said he was optimistic that participating countries would “pursue prudent derisking over decoupling and understand the need for decisive action” .

 

Vaishnaw, who left for the US on Sunday, also met Michael Kratsios, assistant to President Donald Trump and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. During the meeting, Vaishnaw invited Kratsios to the India AI Impact Summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam from February 16 to 20.