India–ASEAN Strategic Cooperation in Critical Energy Transition Minerals

Critical energy transition minerals (CETMs) are increasingly important to industrial development, economic competitiveness, and energy security. As demand grows for the minerals needed for renewable energy technologies, battery storage, and electric mobility, India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are emerging as important actors in global clean energy value chains.

ASEAN countries hold significant reserves of nickel, cobalt, bauxite, rare earth elements, and other strategic minerals, while India is expanding its role in clean technology manufacturing and strengthening its participation in global mineral supply chains. Together, these complementary strengths create opportunities to capture greater value from the energy transition through investments in mineral processing, refining, manufacturing, and related industries. At the same time, several challenges continue to constrain value addition and long-term economic growth. Supply chain vulnerabilities, limited processing and manufacturing capacity, financing gaps, and environmental and social risks remain key concerns. Addressing these challenges will require stronger regional cooperation, coordinated policy approaches, strategic investment, and partnerships among governments, industry, financial institutions, and development organizations.

Against this backdrop, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), in partnership with Energiva Ventures, is convening a virtual roundtable on India–ASEAN strategic cooperation in critical energy transition minerals. The roundtable will bring together policy-makers, industry representatives, researchers, and development partners to explore opportunities for strengthening regional cooperation and advancing resilient and sustainable critical mineral value chains.

The roundtable aims to:

• Strengthen strategic cooperation between India and ASEAN on critical energy transition minerals.
• Explore collaboration models that reflect different national priorities and development pathways.
• Share practical insights to strengthen resilient and sustainable regional value chains.
• Identify opportunities for enhanced policy cooperation, trade, investment, and knowledge exchange.

The two-hour virtual roundtable will combine expert presentations with a moderated discussion among participants. IISD will present its latest analysis of India–ASEAN trade flows in critical energy transition minerals to inform discussions on opportunities for regional cooperation and value chain development.

Key Discussion Themes

• Identifying strategic CETMs and priority areas for deeper India–ASEAN cooperation.
• Strengthening regional trade, investment, and policy coordination on critical minerals.
• Mobilizing finance for responsible mining, processing, manufacturing, and value addition.
• Advancing sustainability standards, disclosures, and responsible supply chain practices.