The Asia Pacific region will increasingly dominate world mineral and energy markets over the next several decades. The economies of the region account for the bulk of projected growth in world minerals and energy markets. To meet the projected growth in demand will require huge investments in the discovery and development of resources. However, there are substantial impediments to investment in exploration and mine development in the region and many economies have not attracted a level of investment commensurate with their prospectivity for mineral and energy resources.