91果冻传媒

Melissa Sanderson, Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold director for international affairs, is on the Arizona-Mexico Commission board of directors and chairs the commission鈥檚 mining committee. She told 91果冻传媒 that the relationship between Arizona and Mexico provides a variety of benefits, especially for the mining industry.听

Question: What is your title?
Answer: Director for International Affairs at Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold.听听

Q: What is your professional background?
A: I was actually in the foreign service for 21 years in a variety of capacities and in a variety of different countries. Then while I was serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it was at the time Phelps Dodge was trying to open a mine in that country and I was instrumental in helping them get that approved. Which is very nice for me because I actually wanted to stay in the Congo and my foreign service was coming to an end. So, when they offered me a job I accepted on the condition that I could stay in the Congo. And, they were thrilled because they were looking for someone insane enough to want to do that. So, I wound up living in Congo for eight years and then I was called back here to work on the broader issues that the company has in its other countries.听

Q: What is your current involvement with the Arizona-Mexico Commission?
A: Actually, I have two distinct roles. I am on the board of directors but I also chair the mining committee as the private sector chair for the U.S. side.听听

Q: Why do you think the work the AMC does is so important for AZ?
A: All of my life I鈥檝e been in the relationship-building business because that鈥檚 what diplomats do. And, around the world in all sorts of countries I鈥檝e seen the power of those relationships because time and again they鈥檝e brought U.S. interest through when there鈥檚 been a massive opposition to our interests. So, what the Arizona-Mexico Commission does is exactly that. It鈥檚 60 years of relationships. It鈥檚 60 years of working together, including through some politically difficult times. And, those kind of friendships- that is irreplaceable. That鈥檚 what makes Arizona a partner of choice versus- oh for instance- Texas.听听

Q: What kind of impact does the AMC have on the mining industry?
A: Well, as you know, Arizona is one of the leading mining states in America. And, on the Mexican side so too is Sonora. And, we actually share a geological foundation because in both cases we have copper, silver. And, in Mexico and Sonora they also have some of the rare materials like lithium, which we didn鈥檛 actually receive by God鈥檚 grace. So, it鈥檚 actually a very important partnership for us because it鈥檚 increasingly difficult for mining companies to operate outside of America. The world is changing, there鈥檚 been a rise in nationalism, there鈥檚 been changes in regulations. And, it鈥檚 nice to feel that we can operate in a place where we feel at home.听听

Q: Why is it important for Arizona to focus on maintaining and continuously building a relationship with Mexico- and specifically Sonora?
A: Well, we already have seen the benefits of having Mexico as our largest, by far, trade partner. Of course, a lot of that has to do with the previous NAFTA and hopefully for the future USMCA. But, it also does stem seriously from the 60-year work of the AMC. And the truth is, each state along the border competes against every other state. And, each state has its individual benefits and drawbacks. And, the AMC, I believe, has been one of Arizona鈥檚 strongest cards to play in being able to attract investment from Mexico and keep the doors and borders open so that our companies are able to export to Mexico and from Mexico to the rest of the world.听听

Q: What is your top priority for the rest of the year concerning the Arizona-Mexico relationship?
A: One of my particular passions is around preparing our workforce of the future for the mining industry. Because just as every state competes against other states, the United States competes against the world and our company competes against every other company. So, it鈥檚 going to be critical to have a workforce that is able to cope with the changes that are coming as a result of artificial intelligence and the internet of things. We have fantastic universities here, and they turn out incredibly talented people. But number one, a lot of those people aren鈥檛 interested in the mining industry. We have some work to do reputationally. Number two, they鈥檙e not necessarily at the moment teaching the skills that we鈥檙e going to need. So, one of the priorities for my committee is working together with the education committee of the AMC to help develop a curriculum that will better prepare workers both in Mexico and in Arizona to be those workers of the future to make our industries competitive and our companies strong.听听

Q: What has been your favorite memory with the AMC?
A: Oh, wow. That鈥檚 a tough one. You know, I think- and it was both a sad moment, but it was also a good moment. I think my favorite memory was when Margie Emmerman was leaving as our president because I saw the outpouring of absolute love and admiration and respect for everything that she had done in very difficult times for the organization. And, seeing particularly a woman receive that acknowledgement from very powerful people like Glenn Hamer and Glenn Williamson and many, many others was absolutely thrilling. So, I think I鈥檇 have to say maybe it was that moment.听

Q: Is there anything else you鈥檇 like to mention?
A: I would just like to say that, you know, the AMC also in addition to everything I鈥檝e already said represents the capacity of foresight that this state has consistently demonstrated. Whether it鈥檚 around water issues with the Central Arizona Project and our overlapping water agreements or whether it鈥檚 understanding that our relationship with Mexico goes beyond- as was said at our recent summit- goes beyond the fact that we are geographical neighbors. It goes to the fact that we have cultural similarities that run deep and have run for long. So, to me, the most important thing is to maintain that foresight and that dedication. And, to keep the AMC going not just for another 60 years, but forever.听