Earlier last month, Krista Maydew, our VP of External Affairs, together with Shinya Takamoto, President and Director of SMM Gold Cote Inc. (a subsidiary of Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd.), met with Matsunaga Takeshi, Consul-General of Japan in Toronto, and talked about the importance of our strategic partnership with Sumitomo in building Côté Gold.

The conversation took place during a ceremony held in honour of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan’s birthday at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto in February. The celebration offered an opportunity for representatives of the political and business communities of both countries to highlight the significance of the bilateral relationship between Canada and Japan and the mutual benefits in terms of trade, investment and technology.

IAMGOLD-Sumitomo, a Perfect Match!

When it starts production this spring, Côté Gold will become Canada’s third-largest gold producer and a model for modern mining in Canada. Sumitomo’s support since the start of the Côté Gold project in 2017 has been critical from an investment and technical perspective. Sumitomo’s in-depth expertise in building and operating mines has been the perfect complement to IAMGOLD’s proven track record as a solid mine builder and operator.

The Côté Gold mine is scheduled to pour its first gold bar at the end of the first quarter of 2024 and to enter commercial production at the end of the third quarter. It has been a colossal construction endeavour!

From left to right: Matsunaga Takeshi (Consul-General of Japan), Krista Maydew (VP of External Affairs, IAMGOLD), Matsunaga Miho (the Consul-General’s wife), and Shinya Takamoto (President and Director of SMM Gold Cote Inc.).