BERLIN, March 3 - Germany and Quebec strengthened their

critical minerals partnership on Tuesday, signing a joint

declaration and four corporate agreements at the Prospectors &

Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) mining conference in

Toronto.

The deals, announced by Germany's economy ministry, aim to

bolster supply chains for materials key to industries such as

electric vehicles, defense and renewable energy. Quebec, a

leading mining hub in Canada, is viewed as an important supplier

of lithium, graphite, nickel and rare earth elements.

Here are some details from the statement:

-- The joint declaration on critical minerals was signed at the

Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada mining conference

in Toronto, the economy ministry said in the statement.

-- The ministry said the agreements aim to strengthen supply

chains for materials vital to electric vehicles, defence and

renewable energy industries.

-- Rock Tech Lithium and Siemens Canada signed a memorandum of

understanding.

-- Scandium Canada and Granges Powder Metallurgy agreed on a

technology collaboration.

-- Destiny Copper and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems concluded a

memorandum of understanding.

-- Metalshub and Northern Graphite established a partnership on

raw materials trading.

-- The ministry said the agreements mark "a strong and tangible

signal" that the partnership is progressing and that they

provide concrete projects and binding commitments.