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Ayda Salem

Mining Ministers from 85 Countries Gather in Riyadh

The fourth annual international ministerial meeting of mining ministers, set for January 14 in Riyadh as part of the Future Minerals Forum, will feature unprecedented global participation, with over 85 countries and 50 ministers attending to discuss key issues in the mining and minerals industry.

Riyadh, January 10, 2025 – The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has announced that the fourth annual international ministerial meeting of mining ministers will take place in Riyadh on January 14, as part of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF). This high-level meeting is set to break new ground with unprecedented global representation, both in terms of the number of participating government officials and the diverse range of critical topics slated for discussion.


The meeting will see representatives from over 85 countries, including 16 nations from the Group of Twenty (G20), making it one of the most significant gatherings of its kind. Over 50 ministers and 13 deputy ministers are expected to participate, along with representatives from more than 50 official and non-governmental international organizations, trade unions, and prominent figures in the global mining industry. This broad representation highlights the forum’s importance as a global platform for addressing the key issues facing the mining and minerals industry today, such as the growing demand for strategic and critical minerals, and exploring new development opportunities in mineral-producing and processing countries.


The ministry has outlined that the upcoming meeting will focus on several pivotal areas. One of the main topics will be reviewing the progress made over the past year on the three major initiatives launched during previous ministerial meetings. These include developing a strategic framework for critical minerals, increasing value-added processing within mineral-producing countries, and advancing the production of green minerals using modern technologies and renewable energy sources. Sustainability and transparency within supply chains will also be key points of discussion, along with strategies to establish centers of excellence in key mining regions, aimed at attracting investment, building capabilities, and developing human resources in the sector.


Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef, who will chair the meeting, is expected to deliver the opening address, emphasizing Saudi Arabia's commitment to sustainable mineral development. His speech will underscore the Kingdom's leadership role in driving the future of the global mining sector, as well as the need for increased international cooperation to tackle challenges and seize the vast opportunities presented by the industry. Alkhorayef will also highlight the importance of building a collaborative global framework that promotes the responsible development of minerals in a way that benefits all nations involved.


Among the notable ministers attending the meeting are Dr. Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italy’s Minister for the Environment and Energy Security; Jonathan Reynolds, the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade; Alexandre Silveira, Brazil’s Minister of Mines and Energy; G. Kishan Reddy, India’s Minister of Coal and Mines; Parks Tau, South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition; Kizito Pakabomba, Minister of Mines for the Democratic Republic of Congo; Eng. Karim Badawi, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources; Henry Dele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development; and Leila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development. Their presence at the meeting signals the importance of collaboration between both developed and developing nations in advancing the mining sector globally.


Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs, emphasized that this international ministerial meeting represents a crucial step toward achieving sustainable development in the global mining and minerals sector. He highlighted the importance of the meeting as an ideal platform for formulating solutions and developing best practices in sustainable mining, alongside exploring ways to invest in mining projects that contribute to economic and social development in producing countries.


The discussions held at the meeting are expected to shape the roadmap for the coming year, with the working groups formed during the event continuing to push forward key initiatives. Al-Mudaifer stressed that the outcomes of the meeting would not remain theoretical, but will be translated into practical actions with tangible, long-term impact on the global mining industry. As the mining sector increasingly plays a central role in global economic development, the collaboration fostered at this ministerial meeting is expected to lay the groundwork for a more sustainable, innovative, and cooperative future for the industry worldwide.

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