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Agata Mining Ventures Inc., operator of the maiden nickel mining project of TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD), which is now in its final rehabilitation stage, was recognized by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) with both regional and national Kabalikat Awards last November 24 at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City.
The company was conferred honors for demonstrating its strong commitment to industry development and community empowerment through its partnership with TESDA. Its contributions to technical-vocational education and training (TVET) likewise highlight its role in fostering growth and enhancing the skills of the local workforce.
The Kabalikat Awards is TESDA's premier recognition program for public and private sector partners whose collaboration has significantly strengthened the country's TVET ecosystem. This year's awardees, including Agata, represent diverse sectors that have gone beyond supporting skills training, employability, and inclusive workforce development.
The National Award
The Agata Nickel Laterite Project concluded its successful nine-year run in 2023 — a project that established the TVIRD Group as a steady supplier of nickel ore to Asian direct markets and helped elevate the host towns of Tubay and Santiago from fourth- to first-class municipalities.
At the same time, its host municipality, Jabonga, progressed from fourth- to second-class status, further validating that TVIRD's approach to social progress is the right one.
Despite already being in its final mine rehabilitation phase and being converted into a nature farm, Agata emerged as the national TESDA awardee in the Industry Category for its apprenticeship and employment programs for local trainees through its Mabakas Techno Demo Farm. The award likewise underscores Agata's role in aligning industry-led skills development with TESDA's mission to produce a globally competitive Filipino workforce.
"Taon-taon, napapatunayan natin na (every year, we prove that) it takes collaboration to really make the change that we want to see. So, today is a chance for us to once again show that when we work together — that is, the government, the industry, and academe — we shape a better future for every Filipino," said TESDA Director General Jose Francisco "Kiko" Benitez during the awarding ceremony, underscoring the importance of partnerships and encouraging greater teamwork.
He further emphasized the pivotal role of private sector Kabalikat awardees: “You help provide the necessary tools and infrastructure, and you facilitate employment and enrichment of our TVET graduates. Kaya hindi maitatanggi na malaki ang contribution ninyo sa socio-economic development ng bansa (your enormous contribution to the country’s socio-economic development cannot be denied).”
The Regional Accolade
On the regional level, Agata's achievement was celebrated along with other local awardees, including the Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte. TESDA Caraga Regional Director Florencio F. Sunico Jr. expressed that when sectors work together, they can uplift local communities and improve lives through shared initiatives.
Agata received top honors last December 18 at the JMX Convention Center in Butuan City.
"As we close the year, we celebrate another milestone for the TVIRD Group. Being recognized as both a regional and national TESDA Kabalikat awardee reflects Agata's unwavering commitment to uplifting the lives of its communities through innovative and sustainable livelihood programs," stated TVIRD Director for Environment and concurrent Agata General Manager for Final Rehabilitation Jesalyn Guingguing, EnP.
This recognition not only honors Agata's contributions but also emphasizes how its collaboration with TESDA benefits local communities and stakeholders through capacity building and employment opportunities that support socio-economic growth, according to the executive.
About the Kabalikat Awards
The TESDA Kabalikat Awards is one of the highest honors given annually by TESDA to outstanding partners who significantly contribute to strengthening technical-vocational education and training in the Philippines. It recognizes institutions, local government units, legislators, organizations, and industry partners whose consistent support has expanded public access to skills training, livelihood programs, and employment opportunities for Filipinos, as well as heralds TESDA's mission of building a skilled and globally competitive workforce.
Through its ongoing collaboration with TESDA, Agata advances its social responsibility objectives by empowering Filipinos with skills and opportunities, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive development and sustainable industry growth.
About TVI in the Philippines
TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. ("TVIRD") is owned in part by TVI Pacific Inc. (TSX: TVI), a publicly listed Canadian mining company focused on the exploration, development, and production of precious and base metals from district-scale, large-system, high-margin projects located in the Philippines. Concurrent ownership of ventures is shared with partner company Prime Resource Holdings Inc.
The Agata Nickel Laterite Mine is the third successful mining project that TVIRD brought on stream in a period of 10 years, while its Balabag Gold-Silver Mine further cements its position as a steady producer of precious metals in the country. With the commercial operations of its Siana Gold Mine, the company's proven track record and commitment to responsible mining practices promote transparency, responsible stewardship of the environment, and the inalienable rights to life, dignity, and sustainable development of its host communities, ensuring a secure and sustainable future for the project.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fast-track strategic infrastructure in conflict-affected areas, accelerating the implementation of the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM) to strengthen connectivity and sustain peace in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The progress of the project and strategies to ensure the successful rollout of RNDP-CAAM were discussed during the recent 5th Steering Committee Meeting led by DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain. The meeting reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to deliver high-impact road projects that reinforce peace and stability in conflict-affected areas, promote inclusive growth, improve mobility, and expand economic opportunities for historically underserved communities.
The DPWH Unified Project Management Office – Roads Management Cluster I (UPMO-RMC I) oversees the implementation of RNDP-CAAM, which comprises three major components totaling 80.97 kilometers of road network. Sub-Project 2, the Parang–Balabagan Road in Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, spans 36.73 kilometers across Parang, Matanog, Kapatagan, and Balabagan. It serves as an alternative to the Asian Highway (AH) 26 and features 16 bridges and one underpass, with Contract Package 2 underway and other packages progressing.
Sub-Project 8, the Parang East Diversion Road, is a 7.07-kilometer national secondary road in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte, that includes four bridges and has reached over 15 percent completion since civil works began in June 2025. Sub-Project 9, the Manuangan–Parang Road in Maguindanao del Norte, covers 17.42 kilometers linking AH26 to the Davao–Cotabato Road, with two major bridges under construction. Implementation is supported by close coordination among government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and security forces.
Funded by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), RNDP-CAAM will build new national roads across key areas in Mindanao to improve the region’s low road density and boost economic activity by enhancing access to markets, essential services, and employment opportunities.
The project is part of the government’s broader peace and development agenda, highlighting infrastructure as a cornerstone for stability, regional growth, and long-term prosperity in conflict-affected areas.
As the Philippines moves toward smarter and more sustainable transport systems, one company is positioning itself at the heart of that transformation: Geotab, a global leader in connected transportation solutions.
With the launch of Geotab Ace in Southeast Asia, the company introduces an AI-powered digital assistant that brings fleet management to a new level of intelligence and simplicity. By enabling users to access insights through natural language, Geotab Ace transforms complex telematics data into clear, actionable information for fleet operators, utilities, and government agencies.
Founded in 2000, Geotab is a trusted provider of telematics and data-driven fleet management solutions, with more than 4 million connected vehicles worldwide. Its open platform and marketplace offer a broad range of applications that help organizations improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability. The company continues to pioneer innovations in AI and analytics to support smarter mobility ecosystems globally.
To learn more about the company’s regional strategy and its vision for the Philippine market, Philippine Resources Journal (PRJ) sat down with Ezanne Soh, Senior Regional Manager, APAC at Geotab, who shared insights on expansion plans, customer empowerment, and the evolving role of AI in fleet management.
Geotab Ace Launch and Regional Expansion
PRJ: Following the Southeast Asia launch of Geotab Ace, how does Geotab plan to expand its presence and customer base in the Philippines?
Ezanne Soh: The Philippines is a key market for Geotab’s regional growth. With Geotab Ace now available on the MyGeotab platform, we’re scaling through close collaboration with local partners that already support transport, logistics, and utilities fleets.
Our goal is to make fleet intelligence available to every operator — from national agencies maintaining road assets to private logistics providers in various Philippine cities. By bringing intuitive AI into existing telematics systems, we help operators accelerate their digital transformation without adding complexity.
Local Market Opportunities
PRJ: What factors make the Philippines a strategic market for Geotab, and how does the company plan to address the specific challenges faced by local fleet operators?
Ezanne Soh: Fleet operators here face some of the toughest operating conditions in the region — dense urban congestion, high fuel prices, and ageing vehicles. Geotab Ace helps turn these pain points into opportunities for improvement. For instance, a manager can instantly see which trucks lose the most hours to traffic or which delivery routes waste the most fuel.
By transforming raw telematics data into clear, conversational insights, Ace enables faster decisions that improve uptime, safety, and cost control.
Customer Adoption and Use Cases
PRJ: How do you envision fleet operators in the Philippines using Geotab Ace to improve operations in areas such as fuel management, driver behavior, and safety monitoring?
Ezanne Soh: Geotab Ace acts as a digital assistant for fleet managers. Users can simply ask, “Which vehicles used the most fuel this week?” or “Were there any driver safety alerts yesterday?” and get an instant, data-backed answer. This helps managers identify inefficiencies, improve driving habits, and make faster operational decisions without needing to build reports manually.
Beyond simplifying data, Geotab Ace also applies predictive safety and maintenance analytics to enhance fleet performance. It can identify risky driving behavior before incidents occur and analyse vehicle health data to anticipate service needs, reducing downtime and improving reliability. By integrating trip data, zone activity, and exception events, Ace provides a holistic view of fleet health and performance, enabling operators to take proactive action on both driver safety and vehicle upkeep.
PRJ: Are there any early adopters, pilot programs, or success stories from Philippine fleets that you can share?
Ezanne Soh: We’re currently working with regional partners and local fleets exploring how Geotab Ace can be integrated into their operations, particularly in logistics, utilities, and infrastructure management.
Globally, Geotab customers are already seeing measurable impact. We’ve seen reductions in idle time, improved safety compliance, and faster, data-driven decisions using Geotab Ace.
A great example is our recent case study with Métrica Móvil in Mexico — one of Geotab’s long-standing partners, which integrated Geotab Ace directly into its IRIS Fleet™ management platform. The integration was completed rapidly, providing fleet managers with instant, conversational access to insights in both English and Spanish. It showcased how Geotab Ace can be seamlessly embedded into existing systems to deliver real-time, actionable intelligence.
These results demonstrate the scalability of Geotab Ace and reinforce what’s possible as we bring the same technology and expertise to Southeast Asia and the Philippines.
AI, Data, and Localization
PRJ: Given the country’s traffic patterns and logistics infrastructure, how is Geotab Ace designed to interpret and simplify complex fleet data for Philippine users?
Ezanne Soh: Local fleets face diverse and unpredictable conditions — from heavy stop-and-go traffic in Metro Manila to long provincial routes. Geotab Ace interprets this complexity in context. For example, it can distinguish between idling caused by traffic and idling due to driver behavior, giving managers a more accurate understanding of what’s really happening on the road.
Unlike traditional dashboards, Geotab Ace delivers personalized insights based on each fleet’s unique configuration — from vehicle mix to operational zones — and even remembers previous interactions to provide more relevant answers over time.
PRJ: How does Geotab ensure compliance with the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act and maintain customer trust when handling sensitive telematics data?
Ezanne Soh: At Geotab, we understand that our customers’ data is essential to their business operations, which is why protecting it is one of our highest priorities. We embed privacy into every stage of product design and development through our Privacy by Design framework, ensuring responsible innovation and strong data governance from the ground up.
Our approach to data protection is guided by clear principles. We collect only what’s necessary (data minimization), apply rigorous security and access controls, and adhere to data residency requirements by storing and processing information in the appropriate geographical regions. Whenever possible, we also de-identify or anonymize data to further safeguard personal and confidential information.
In practice, this means Geotab complies fully with international standards such as GDPR. We maintain a comprehensive data governance framework, supported by dedicated legal, privacy, and compliance teams, as well as an Enterprise Data & AI Risk Committee that reviews all major AI-related initiatives. Every new innovation, including Geotab Ace, goes through rigorous security testing, ethics assessments, and Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs).
Our goal is simple: to ensure that customers can trust us with their data. By making privacy and security integral to every part of our business, we deliver technology that is not only powerful but also responsible and transparent.
Sustainability and Electric Mobility
PRJ: With the Philippines gradually moving toward electric vehicle adoption and sustainability, how can Geotab Ace support local operators in transitioning to greener fleet operations?
Ezanne Soh: The shift to electric vehicles is picking up across Southeast Asia, and the Philippines is part of that movement. Many fleets are starting small by electrifying specific routes or vehicle types, and data is essential to making those decisions confidently.
Geotab supports this process through our EV Suitability Assessment (EVSA), which uses real-world telematics data from the world’s largest dataset on EV performance. It helps operators identify which vehicles are best suited for electrification based on factors such as route length, charging availability, weather conditions, and cost efficiency.
Geotab Ace complements this by making sustainability insights easy to access through natural language. A fleet manager can ask, “How much could I reduce emissions if I replaced half my fleet with EVs?” or “Which vehicles are using the most fuel this month?” and get an instant, data-backed answer. By combining EV analytics with conversational AI, Ace helps operators track emissions, understand range performance, and plan their transition to cleaner transport within the same platform they already use to manage daily operations.
Our goal is to make sustainability practical, helping fleets meet their environmental targets while improving efficiency and reducing costs.
Collaboration and Ecosystem Building
PRJ: Is Geotab exploring potential partnerships with local technology providers, government agencies, or logistics associations to strengthen its presence in the Philippines?
Ezanne Soh: Collaboration is a core part of how we operate at Geotab. We’re always looking for opportunities to work with local partners — from technology providers and industry associations to government agencies — to advance shared goals around safety, sustainability, and digital transformation.
As we expand in the Philippines, we’re exploring ways to strengthen this ecosystem and ensure our solutions complement national efforts to modernize transport and logistics. We believe collaboration will play a vital role in helping fleets of all sizes adopt new technologies responsibly and effectively.
User Empowerment and Capability Building
PRJ: Beyond data insights, how does Geotab plan to help Philippine fleet managers and drivers build digital literacy and maximize the use of AI-driven tools like Ace?
Ezanne Soh: We’re investing in on-the-ground enablement such as training sessions, webinars, and partner workshops designed to help users build confidence with AI. Fleet managers quickly see how much time Ace saves by automating daily reporting or compliance checks.
That experience builds trust in data and shifts decision-making from reactive to proactive.
Future Outlook
PRJ: Looking ahead, what are Geotab’s long-term goals for the Philippine market, and how do you see AI shaping the future of the country’s fleet and transport industry over the next five years?
Ezanne Soh: Our long-term goal is to help make every Philippine fleet data-driven, safer, and more sustainable.
Within the next five years, we expect AI to be embedded in every stage of fleet management — from predictive safety alerts to automated maintenance scheduling and sustainability reporting.
By partnering with local stakeholders, Geotab aims to be the trusted data partner supporting this evolution of the nation’s transport ecosystem.
Through Geotab Ace, the company is redefining how fleets in the Philippines harness the power of AI and telematics to drive efficiency, safety, and sustainability. By combining innovation with local collaboration, Geotab is helping pave the way for a more intelligent and connected transport future.
If you are developing or operating a mine in the Philippines, you understand complexity. Geological variability, high rainfall, seismic exposure, through to capital discipline, all shape decisions from the earliest concept stage.
For 30 years, RDCL has worked alongside mining companies across the Philippines — from investigation and feasibility through to detailed design, construction support, and operations. We are a specialist geotechnical consultancy that is committed to continuity and staying involved. We understand what happens when ground risk is underestimated — and how to manage it properly.
From three decades of involvement in Philippine mining, here are five lessons that consistently stand out.
1. Geotechnics Should Enable Your Mine — Not Slow It Down
Your objective is not to get a completed geotechnical report, but to build and operate a commercially viable mine.
Geotechnical engineering sits at the centre of your project — linking geology, mine planning, structural engineering, tailings design, water management, and operations. When that link functions well, it strengthens every part of the system. When it becomes isolated or slowed due to cautious mindsets, it creates delay and friction.
The greatest value comes from seamless integration between geotechnical advice and the wider project team. Slope angles influence stripping ratios. Tailings design affects consenting and long-term liability. Foundation performance impacts construction sequencing. Geotechnical advice cannot sit in a silo — it must reflect the whole mine.
Ground risk must be managed rigorously, but always in alignment with operational and commercial objectives. When geotechnical input enables progress rather than obstructing it, projects move forward with confidence.
2. Decisiveness Is Key
Mining in the Philippines involves uncertainty. Deep weathering, faulting, seismic loading, groundwater interaction, and intense rainfall all introduce complexity.
But complexity should not translate into indecision.
Across feasibility studies, regulatory review, construction, and operations, problems rarely arise because risks were completely unknown. More often, they arise because risks were not clearly structured, prioritised, or acted upon.
You need geotechnical advisors who will:
Identify potential failure modes early
Maintain disciplined risk frameworks
Evaluate realistic design options
Make confident, defensible recommendations
Experience sharpens judgement. When you have seen projects through construction and into operation, you understand which risks materially affect long-term performance — and which can be proportionately managed.
Clear decisions protect both capital and schedule. Choose partners who can define the best pathway forward with confidence and certainty.
3. Bench Strength Matters
Geotechnical delivery spans multiple interconnected disciplines across the life of mine. It is not a single technical stream — it is a coordinated framework of expertise.
Mining projects typically require capability in:
Geological interpretation and ground modelling
Open pit slope stability and rock mass characterisation
Underground excavation behaviour and support design
Tailings storage facility investigation and embankment design
Seismic hazard and stability assessment
Groundwater and high-rainfall performance
Earthworks and embankment construction
Plant and critical infrastructure foundations
Each discipline carries its own risks and directly influences the others — from mine economics and long-term liability to stability and infrastructure durability.
Effective geotechnical delivery requires breadth as well as depth. It demands integration across technical streams and continuity from feasibility through construction. In environments such as the Philippines — where geological variability, seismic exposure, and climatic pressures compound risk — that breadth is essential.
True end-to-end expertise means having a supplier who has the breadth of skills in their team to navigate a wide range of scenarios, align assumptions across each stage, and support performance from first investigation through to operation. Choose a supplier who has good bench strength.
4. Make It Simple
Ground conditions in the Philippines can be complex. Communication should not be.
Whether dealing with regulators, financiers, independent reviewers, boards, or operational teams, clarity is critical. You must be able to explain what the ground risks are, how significant they are, how they are being managed, and what residual exposure remains.
Overly complicated explanations erode confidence. Clear, defensible advice strengthens approvals and funding pathways. If a risk cannot be explained clearly, it has not yet been properly resolved. Clarity is not simplification for its own sake — it is disciplined risk management.
5. Ground-Up Delivery Requires an Operational Mindset
Mining projects are delivered under schedule pressure and in demanding environments. Conditions change quickly. Construction windows are tight. Decisions cannot wait for perfect information.
In this context, geotechnical design must be practical as well as technically sound. It must be constructible. Information must be delivered when it is needed. Recommendations must reflect actual site conditions — not assumptions carried forward from a desktop model.
Ground conditions must be verified in the field. Design assumptions must be tested against observation. Technical judgement must align with how work is carried out on site.
The greatest value comes from geotechnical partners who understand construction sequencing, contractor interfaces, and production pressures — and who can deliver timely advice that keeps projects moving.
Technical knowledge is key. Practical judgement converts it into value.
In Summary: End-to-End Expertise in the Philippine Context
Operating continuously in the Philippines for over 30 years has provided more than technical experience. It has provided perspective — an understanding of how mining projects evolve over time.
Across these projects, one principle stands out: the greatest value lies in lifecycle integration.
Mining will always involve uncertainty. Ground conditions can never be fully known before excavation. But uncertainty can be managed confidently when geotechnical expertise is applied early, decisively, and across the entire life of the mine.
That is what three decades in Philippine mining has taught us.
Cam Wylie is a Professional Engineer and Executive Director of RDCL, a geotechnical and geophysical consultancy operating in the Philippines, New Zealand, and the Pacific. He has 30 years’ experience across Philippine mining and infrastructure projects, with a special interest in new development.
Major Drilling’s Philippines branch achieved a significant milestone—10 years of safe operations without a Lost Time Injury (LTI). In 2025, the branch surpassed 4 million LTI-free hours by emphasizing proactive safety standards, ongoing training, and open communication. This achievement reflects a sustained commitment to workplace safety and operational discipline, setting a benchmark for the mineral drilling sector in the region.
Major Drilling Philippines (known locally as MDGI Philippines Inc.) supports mineral exploration and development projects across the country, providing specialized services such as coring, reverse circulation, underground, and geotechnical drilling. The branch has grown alongside the industry’s evolving requirements, applying global best practices in safety and technology while maintaining a strong local workforce.
Global Context: Scale and Specialized Expertise
While the Philippines branch celebrates its safety record, Major Drilling Group International enters 2026 with expanded capabilities worldwide. Founded in 1980 in New Brunswick, Canada, the company has evolved from a regional contractor into a global leader in specialized drilling services. Today, it operates across six continents, offering a broad range of specialized drilling services—supported by technology-driven tools for data capture and analytics.
“We’re proud to be part of this great company and bring our branch’s impressive safety record and cohesion to the greater team,” Daniel Paradis, General Manager of the Branch, said. “This creates productive days for clients and helps us keep our particular focus on safety best practices and social responsibility.”
Safety and Fiscal Strength
In fiscal 2025, Major Drilling reported $727.6 million in revenue and invested $72.5 million in fleet modernization, while achieving a Total Recordable Incident Frequency Rate (TRIFR) of 0.74, its lowest in 45 years. These results underscore the company’s emphasis on operational discipline and a safety-first culture.
A major contributor to recent growth was the integration of Explomin Perforaciones in late 2024, adding 92 drills and expanding Major Drilling’s fleet to more than 700 rigs. This acquisition strengthened the company’s presence in South America and increased exposure to copper-focused regions such as Peru, supporting complex drilling programs across multiple jurisdictions.
Driving Innovation: Major+ and AI-Assisted Core Logging
Alongside geographic expansion, Major Drilling has advanced its Major+ innovation platform, combining drilling services with imaging, surveying, and AI-assisted logging. In partnership with KORE GeoSystems, the company introduced a drillside imaging unit that captures high-resolution core photos and uses AI to produce rapid logs, including RQD measurements. Early pilots at G Mining Ventures’ Tocantinzinho project in Brazil demonstrated improvements in decision-making and data consistency.
How It Works
The system integrates a ruggedized imaging station at the drill site, equipped with high-resolution cameras and lighting to capture consistent core photographs. These images are processed through KORE GeoSystems’ AI engine, which applies depth referencing, segmentation, and automated calculations such as RQD and fracture counts. The workflow eliminates manual logging delays by generating preliminary logs within seconds, accessible through a secure cloud platform.
Benefits for Geologists and Project Managers
Traditionally, core logging is labor-intensive and subject to variability in measurement and interpretation. By automating key steps, the AI-assisted system improves accuracy, repeatability, and auditability. Geologists can validate geological models in near real time, reducing the lag between drilling and decision-making. For project managers, this translates into greater agility—holes can be extended, shortened, or redirected while drilling is still in progress, optimizing resource allocation and reducing unnecessary meters drilled.
Impact on Cost and Scheduling
The ability to make informed decisions at the rig site has direct implications for project economics. Faster logging reduces downtime, while improved data quality minimizes the risk of costly errors in resource modeling. For remote projects, where logistics and mobilization costs are significant, these efficiencies can represent substantial savings.
Industry Implications
Beyond operational gains, AI-assisted logging supports data standardization across projects and jurisdictions. Images and logs are indexed, searchable, and depth-referenced, creating a digital audit trail that meets the growing demand for verifiable geodata in compliance reporting and due diligence. The system also enables remote collaboration, allowing experts to review core images and logs from anywhere in the world**,** a capability that became particularly valuable during recent global travel restrictions.
Future Developments
Major Drilling and its technology partners are exploring integration with predictive analytics and geological modeling software, aiming to link real-time logging with dynamic resource models. This could allow drill programs to adapt continuously based on evolving geological interpretations, further reducing uncertainty and improving project outcomes.
Workforce Diversity and Sustainability
Major Drilling employs more than 6,000 people worldwide and invests in workforce development through programs such as Core College and training on new technologies. Its sustainability framework, formalized in 2020, addresses greenhouse gas tracking, water stewardship, community engagement, encouraging women in mining, and partnerships with Indigenous groups. A 2025 idling policy aligns with industry efforts to reduce emissions.
Outlook for the Philippines and Beyond
The Philippines branch’s decade-long safety record illustrates how structured programs and practices can deliver measurable results at the site level. As global mining increasingly targets deeper and more complex deposits, and as sustainability and safety standards rise, drilling contractors capable of integrating technology with skilled execution will play a critical role in project success.
For Major Drilling, this means continuing to combine scale with specialized expertise, embedding data and automation into workflows, and maintaining safety performance that meets the expectations of mining partners worldwide.
Visit majordrilling.com to learn more about the company's services.
Geo Connect Asia grows its influence in a vibrant interconnected marketplace
The 6th edition of the two-day Geo Connect Asia will open on March 31 in Singapore, with record attendance expected from leading Singaporean and regional government agencies, enterprise decision-makers and global experts.
Co-located with Digital Construction Asia, Drones & Uncrewed Asia, and Ocean Connect Asia, the event is expected to attract more than 3,000 attendees.
Under the theme “Transforming technology into solutions: underground, land & sea to sky,” Geo Connect Asia 2026 will host more than 150 speakers across seven conference stages, alongside over 100 exhibitors.
The conferences include:
• Geo Autonomy Summit, themed “Transforming the power of geospatial knowledge, data, AI and autonomy into actionable insights.”
• Ocean Connect Asia, themed “AI, autonomy, robotics & uncrewed solutions as drivers of a sustainable blue economy.”
• Digital Underground Connect 2026
• Digital Construction Asia, themed “Construction in the age of AI: innovation & sustainability shaping tomorrow’s built environment.”
• Geo Smart Mining 2026
• Indoor Mapping Forum 2026
• GNSS Asia Executive Circle 2026
Speakers include:
• Ed Parsons, Digital Geographer and Geospatial Consultant; former Geospatial Technologist at Google
• Dr. Victor Khoo, Chief Surveyor / Director of Survey & Geomatics at the Singapore Land Authority
• Dr. Francisco Castillo, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Maynilad Water Services Inc.
• David Foo, Deputy Chief Executive (Operations and Technology), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
• Alain Waha, Chief Technology Officer, Buro Happold
The exhibition will feature industry-leading companies including Trimble, Leica Geosystems, and Grab Maps, alongside emerging players in robotics and uncrewed technologies such as Autel Robotics, AI and Robotics Ventures (ARV), Fixposition, and OXTS.
Supported by the Singapore Land Authority, Geo Connect Asia serves as a meeting point for the Southeast Asian region, representing a population of more than 700 million and a combined economy ranked as the world’s fourth largest.
Geo Connect Asia is organized by Montgomery Asia, a wholly owned affiliate of the London-based Montgomery Group, which has been present in Singapore since 2018.
For further information, please contact Rupert.Owen@montgomerygroup.com or visit the respective event websites:
• www.geoconnectasia.com
• www.digitalconstructionasia.com
• www.oceanconnectasia.com
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