Al-Kharif seeks to enhance global mining partnerships at the Riyadh conference
In a move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to consolidating its position as a global center for mining industries, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, held an intensive series of bilateral meetings with a select group of ministers and international officials, on the sidelines of the fifth edition of the International Mining Conference hosted by the capital, Riyadh.
These diplomatic and economic moves come at a time when the mining sector is undergoing radical transformations globally, as the Kingdom, through Vision 2030, seeks to make the mining sector the third pillar of national industry, aiming to exploit untapped mineral wealth valued at trillions of riyals, in addition to leading the global dialogue on securing supply chains of vital minerals needed for energy transition and advanced industries.
Strengthening Gulf and Arab integration
Minister Al-Khorayef began his meetings with a meeting with the Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed. The meeting focused on the importance of industrial integration among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and explored ways to unify efforts to enhance Gulf competitiveness in global markets.
On the Arab and African level, Al-Khorayef met with the Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Dr. Leila Benali. These discussions are of strategic importance given Morocco's position as a key gateway to African markets. The two sides discussed expanding mining partnerships and enhancing Saudi exports to the African continent, which supports the conference's objectives of creating a major mining region stretching from Africa to Central and West Asia.
International partnerships for technology transfer and exploration
As part of its commitment to leveraging established global expertise, the Kingdom has turned its attention to South America, where Minister of Mines and Energy, Dr. Mohammad Al-Khorayef, met with the Chilean Minister of Mines, Aurora Williams, to discuss potential areas of collaboration. Chile is a world leader in copper and lithium production, making the exchange of technical expertise crucial for the development of the Saudi mining sector, particularly in exploration and sustainable extraction technologies.
The meetings also included extensive discussions with Claude Guy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Canadian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Saudi-Canadian relations in this sector are characterized by remarkable growth, with Canadian companies leading the way in acquiring mining exploration licenses in the Kingdom. The meeting addressed ways to strengthen this partnership, focusing on innovative financing solutions and the localization of the latest environmentally friendly mining technologies.
These intensive meetings confirm the success of the International Mining Conference in transforming Riyadh into a global platform for decision-making in the minerals sector, serving the objectives of diversifying the national economy and attracting foreign direct investment.
