Lily D’Ambrosio – Victorian Minister for Industry, Energy and Resources – joined with key mining industry leaders at a special event in Melbourne last night to mark the launch.

D’Ambrosio said IMARC was now a natural focal point for businesses in the Asia Pacific region.

“IMARC will provide a platform for business to diversify their market exposure and develop new relationships in the resources sector to underpin growth and expansion,” she said.

“As part of IMARC, the government will also be hosting the Framework – Mining Summit, promoting best practice regulation and policy excellence.

“We look forward to welcoming resources ministers and senior business representatives from Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Asia Pacific and Latin America, to discuss their challenges and perspectives.

“It will be a packed agenda which will canvass issues such as global trends for resources and regulation, and new frontiers for exploration and development and regulatory framework.”

IMARC event director Anita Richards confirmed global mining services provider Orica was the foundation sponsor for this year’s conference.

“Orica is the largest provider of commercial explosives and blasting systems to the mining industry globally, and it is fantastic to have them join with IMARC once again as our foundation sponsor,” Richards said.

"We look forward to hearing from Alberto Calderon, Orica's managing director and CEO, who will be a keynote speaker at this year's IMARC.

“In its inaugural year the conference attracted some 2000 delegates and this year we are expecting attendance of more than 3000 as well as about 100 company exhibitions – in total representing approximately 35 countries globally.

“We’ve also launched a new Junior Mining Hub for IMARC this year, which will provide junior miners the opportunity to present their projects in a dedicated on-floor feature.

“IMARC really unites the entire mining industry and I must thank our principal founding partners Austmine and AusIMM, along with the Victorian Government, AMMA and Mines and Money for their continued support in ensuring its success.”

Also speaking at the event, Orica global head of corporate affairs and sustainability Gavin Jackman said Orica was proud to be the IMARC foundation sponsor for the second consecutive year.

"Orica is proud to support an initiative that brings together a diverse range of resources related organisations from across the world,” Jackman said.

“At a time when mining companies are facing challenging conditions, IMARC presents an opportunity to bring together representatives from mining, government and mining services providers, such as Orica, and enable greater collaboration for the benefit of customers."