By Chuck Chiang | May 13, 2021, 10:05am Imperial Metals' Red Chris copper-gold mine in northwest B.C. | BIV files The Canadian mining sector became the country’s top target market for inbound foreign direct investment (FDI) from the Asia Pacific region in 2020, the result of a COVID-induced slowing of the perennial front-runner (energy) and the sector’s resilient reputation. That’s the finding of the Asia Pacific Foundation’s Investment Monitor 2021 report, which saw the mining sector attract 13 FDI deals valued at $1.13 billion – accounting for 14% of all FDI inflow into Canada from the Asia Pacific region. The number was driven by two major deals: an Australian company’s $495 million purchase of the Red Lake Gold Mine complex and a Chinese firm’s $323 million acquisition of Guyana Goldfields and Aranka Gold. The deals also place mining second overall in attracting Asia-Pacific FDI since 2003 with $35.9 billion. That is behind only the energy sector’s $109.9 billion and well ahead of consumer goods ($28.2 billion).