Opening Speech at the Singapore Office Launch

Presented by Patrick Smith, Managing Director, 24 August 2015

Distinguished guests, Dear colleagues, Ladies and gentlemen

Good evening.

First of all, I would like to thank Mr Foong Chong Lek for kindly offering the Singapore Exchange building as the venue for this event tonight. {Thank you.}

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this official opening of AMC Consultants’ Singapore representative office, and to thank you for your attendance. The opening of this office is most significant to AMC, being our first permanent presence in Asia. This reflects the growing importance of Asia in AMC’s business model and, in our view, the growing importance of Singapore in the global economy, in the international financial system, and in the mineral, oil, and gas (MOG) sector.

AMC is a leading mining consultancy with offices in Australia, Canada, the UK, and now Singapore. Our clients include the world’s leading mining and exploration companies, and also corporate advisers, financial institutions, legal firms, and insurance companies associated with the minerals industry.

We have completed consultancy assignments for clients worldwide – in over 100 countries. We have made a conscious effort in recent years to build our business in what are, to us, our emerging markets compared to our more established markets – such as Australia and Canada. In addition to Asia this focus is most strongly directed towards Russia, Kazakhstan, and Latin America.

There has been considerable change in the minerals industry in the past few years. A mining boom in almost all mineral commodities with demand outstripping supply has been followed by a downturn with supply exceeding demand. We now appear to be transitioning to a period of steady-as-it-goes – containing individual gyrations of commodity supply, demand, and price.

A persistent challenge for the world economy is achieving sustained economic growth, and from that growth securing prosperity. The minerals industry has a key role to play in economic growth and a nation’s prosperity. AMC sees strong investment prospects for mine development and finance, and new mine production in the Asian region. Our view is reinforced through listening to Chong Lek’s views tonight on the potential of the MOG sector here in Singapore.

We are gathered here tonight to renew friendships and forge stronger ties, and to thank our friends and partners in Singapore. After six years of regularly visiting Singapore from afar, we feel very welcome to now be a more permanent part of Singapore’s future.

Once again, thank you for taking time to be here with us tonight. I wish you all a pleasant evening.