Amanta’s initial focus is on Thailand and the surrounding countries, including Laos and Vietnam.

Thailand is a country with excellent mineral potential, although mining investment in the country had initially been slow to materialize due to the heavy emphasis on other sectors for economic development. However, Thai government policy with respect to mining has changed, reflecting an increasingly supportive role for the industry. Excellent taxation and other incentives are available to investors in the industry.

Historically, Thailand has been one of the larger producers of tin, tungsten and precious stones. In 1996 royalty rates payable to the Government for gold projects was reduced from 10% to 2.5%, increasing interest in the gold sector. This has led to more exploration and in December 2001 resulted in the successful commissioning of the first modern gold mining operation in Thailand, Kingsgate Consolidated’s Chatree mine near Pichit. Another example is the Tungkam gold mine in Loei province, which was commissioned in 2006.

Recent revisions to the Mineral Act, the approval of the Padaeng zinc open-pit expansion as well as the issue of several Special Prospecting Licences, are strong evidence of government support for the emerging mining industry.

In the Lao PDR, the government actively promotes foreign investment in nearly all sectors, including mining. After successful exploration by Rio Tinto and development by Oxiana Ltd., the Sepon gold and copper mine was commissioned in 2001, marking the first modern mine in Laos. More recently, Pan Australian commissioned a copper-gold mine at Phu Bia and several exploration licence applications are presently under consideration by the government.

Amanta has recently completed the administrative and technical requirements in support of its application for an exclusive exploration and development concession over an area of 2,000 sq. km. in northern Laos, where the company believes good potential for base and precious metals exists.

Vietnam has a modern Mineral Law (1996) and recent investment agreements have provided optimism about Vietnam’s foreign investment policies in the natural resources sector. With the government’s emphasis on industrial development for the next decade, mining investment is steadily increasing.