World Bank Group and Japan Launch RISE+ and DRIVE to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply Chains and Energy Resilience
TOKYO, June 1, 2026 — The World Bank Group and Japan have agreed to expand their cooperation on critical minerals supply chains and regional energy security, launching two new initiatives designed to help developing countries translate growing demand for clean energy resources into investment, jobs, and long-term economic growth.
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and Japan’s Minister of Finance Satsuki Katayama signed the agreement in Tokyo today, establishing the Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement Plus (RISE+) facility and a new framework called Dynamic Response for Invigorating Value Chains and Energy Security (DRIVE).
The initiatives build on the Resilient and Inclusive Supply-Chain Enhancement (RISE) Partnership launched under Japan’s G7 presidency in 2023, and complement POWERR Asia, Japan’s 0 billion framework addressing fuel supply shortages and supply chain disruptions in Asia stemming from the Middle East conflict.
RISE+ will operate as a 0 million facility under Japan’s single-donor trust funds. It aims to help developing nations mobilize private capital for critical minerals supply chains — including rare earths — and translate natural resource wealth into industrial development and quality jobs. The facility will coordinate public and private sector action in line with Country Compacts, supporting concrete investment projects.
DRIVE will leverage the World Bank Group’s global expertise and Japan’s leadership in energy security. Working with Japanese government agencies including the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the framework will provide analysis, technical assistance, and sovereign lending to help vulnerable countries stabilize economies, strengthen supply chain management, and pool purchasing power for critical supplies.
“We appreciate Japan’s leadership in enhancing critical minerals supply chain resilience through RISE+ and strengthening energy security through POWERR Asia,” said Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group. “These initiatives will help countries turn growing demand for clean energy and critical minerals into investment, jobs, and economic opportunity that improve lives across developing economies.”
Minister Katayama said: “Critical mineral supply chain diversification through RISE+, and promotion of resilient regional supply chains and energy transition in the Asia-Pacific through DRIVE are both win-win policies that contribute not only to the creation of high-quality jobs and sustainable economic growth in developing countries, but also to helping ensure stable supply for importing countries, including Japan.”
The partnership reflects growing recognition that critical minerals — essential for clean energy technologies, electronics, and defense — are concentrated in a few geographic regions, creating supply vulnerabilities. By coordinating investment and policy frameworks across the Asia-Pacific, RISE+ and DRIVE aim to diversify supply chains while ensuring developing resource-rich countries capture more value domestically.
Both initiatives are designed to contribute to stable economic growth in developing countries, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as in Japan and the global economy.
Source: “The World Bank Group and Japan Expand Cooperation to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply Chains and Energy Resilience,” World Bank Group, June 1, 2026.
