More than 22,000 attendees from over 100 countries gathered at the PDAC 2016 Convention of The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) in Toronto where investors, analysts, mining executives, geologists, government officials and students gathered for the largest exploration and mining event in the world. In spite of recent industry challenges and the current downturn in the global resource markets, optimism and opportunity abounded, indicating a positive shift in sentiment amongst the industry’s key players.
The PDAC is the national voice of Canada’s mineral exploration and development industry. With a membership of over 8,000, the PDAC’s mission is to promote a responsible, vibrant and sustainable Cana-dian mineral exploration and development sector. The PDAC encourages leading practices in technical, environmental, safety and social performance in Canada and internationally and is known worldwide for its annual Convention in Toronto, Canada.
For Germany, the PDAC 2016, that took place from 6th to 9th March in the Toronto exhibition centre, marked an important milestone. For the first time in the Convention’s 84 year history, Germany had a country presence with 16 companies jointly exhibiting as part of a German pavilion. Sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the pavilion offered German companies a low-cost opportunity to present their products and services to the international mining community (Figure 1).
In addition to institutional exhibitors of service, consulting and supply companies the German Federation of International Mining and Mineral Resources (FAB) also had a booth on the PDAC. The FAB played a crucial role in paving the way for the German pavilion by submitting the proposal to AUMA in 2015. “The first joint German presence at PDAC was extremely successful”, FAB-Managing Director Martin Wedig said on the last day of the convention, “the feedback of FAB member companies that were part of the German pavilion was positive without exception”. This impression was confirmed by the exhibiting companies themselves.
The German Mineral Resources Agency (DERA), the Competence Centre for Mining and Mineral Resources at the Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce Inc. (AHK Canada), were also among the exhibitors. Together with the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany they hosted a reception at the pavilion to attract additional attention and enable opportunities for networking. Walter Stechel, Consul General to Toronto, welcomed the international guests along with Volker Steinbach from the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), the German Geological Survey.
German companies interested in participating at the PDAC 2017 Convention German Pavilion, March 5 to 8, 2017 in Toronto, can contact the FAB (martin.wedig@v-r-b.de) or the Competence Centre for Mining and Mineral Resources at the AHK Canada (aarti.soerensen@germanchamber.ca).
(AHK Canada/Si.)