Riyadh: The fifth ministerial meeting of leaders from Arab countries responsible for mineral resources, held as part of the Future Minerals Forum, concluded yesterday in Riyadh. The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources from January 13 to 15, 2026, under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and was held under the theme 'Minerals for a New Era of Development.' According to Saudi Press Agency, at the opening of the meeting, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef welcomed participants, describing this edition as a major milestone for the largest gathering of its kind worldwide. He said the scale of participation reflects the growing international importance of the ministerial meeting and its expanding role in shaping the future of the global mining sector. Representatives from 100 countries took part in the meeting. Alkhorayef noted that when the initiative was launched in 2022, it brought together 32 gover nments, and has since expanded to include ministers and senior officials from more than 100 countries and 59 organizations. All G20 members were represented, alongside key mineral-producing, exporting, and consuming nations, underscoring the need for inclusive dialogue to develop practical and balanced solutions. In his address, Alkhorayef emphasized that minerals are now at the center of global development, noting that achieving economic, industrial, and energy objectives depends on secure and resilient mineral supply chains supported by strong investment and advanced technologies. He highlighted challenges facing the sector, including slow project development, fragmented policies, infrastructure and financing gaps, and the need to strengthen trust across the value chain. He said these challenges require deeper international cooperation, pointing to progress made over the past five years. This includes collaboration with the World Bank Group to address the exploration financing gap and elevate infrastructu re financing on the global agenda, as well as efforts to enhance transparency through standards that reflect the realities of producing countries. He also announced the establishment of a network of centers of excellence to build capacity in supply regions, focusing on talent development, sustainability, and technology. Alkhorayef further announced the creation of a Permanent Ministerial Group to advise the ministerial mining meeting and the Future Minerals Forum on strategic priorities, monitor the implementation of current initiatives, and propose new ones. The group will be geographically balanced, representing producing, exporting, and consuming countries, with an initial rotating membership of 17 countries. The 2026 International Mining Conference will focus on reviewing the impact of initiatives launched since 2023 to support mineral supply, encouraging governments to join the 'Framework for the Future of Minerals' to deepen cooperation, strengthening dialogue with industry leaders on the role of mini ng in global development, and developing a roadmap to make mineral security a shared responsibility among governments, the private sector, and other stakeholders. At the conclusion of the meeting, Alkhorayef expressed appreciation to more than 130 experts from 42 countries who contributed to developing and implementing the three core initiatives, describing their efforts as a cornerstone of the conference's success.
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