I am Motoki Nishino, President of NIC Resources. When I was young, the end of the Cold War brought hopes of a more unified world, transcending the divide between East and West. This vision began to materialize as globalization advanced, particularly in manufacturing. Developed countries, including Japan, started to scale back their mining and smelting activities in the rare metals sector due to concerns over costs and environmental impact. Instead, they turned to purchasing large quantities of more affordable resources from developing nations.

However, the landscape has changed dramatically. With the rise in demand from developing countries, especially China, resource nationalism has intensified. New geopolitical tensions, such as trade disputes between the U.S. and China, have also emerged.

These developments have made it increasingly difficult to secure a stable supply of rare metals. Relying solely on low-cost raw materials from producing countries is no longer a viable strategy. To ensure a consistent supply, we must diversify our procurement strategies and invest in resource development and scrap recycling.

Over the past 25 years, I have sourced rare metals from regions such as Russia, Central Asia, China, Southeast Asia, and Africa. My work has included supporting mines with financing and supplying equipment, as well as advancing scrap recycling initiatives. At NIC Resources, we leverage this experience to forge strong partnerships with mines, smelting companies, recycling firms, and end-users, ensuring a reliable supply of rare metals to meet your needs.