Riyadh to Host Third Edition of Int’l Future Minerals Forum

The Second Edition Future Minerals Forum in 2022 (SPA)
The Second Edition Future Minerals Forum in 2022 (SPA)
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Riyadh to Host Third Edition of Int’l Future Minerals Forum

The Second Edition Future Minerals Forum in 2022 (SPA)
The Second Edition Future Minerals Forum in 2022 (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced the third edition of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The Ministry explained that the third edition will build on previous editions of FMF, offering a deep dive into a broad spectrum of topics and critical issues facing the global minerals industry, including sustainability practices and standards, developing green and future minerals value chains, and attracting investments in the super region.

It also aims to integrate knowledge and technology in mining operations and assert the role of the minerals sector in developing local economies and societies.

FMF is an essential platform for the super region, which stretches from Africa to West and Central Asia, bringing together industry leaders, investors, policymakers, and experts to shape the future of the minerals sector collectively.

The Forum is an essential platform for the super region, which stretches from Africa to West and Central Asia, bringing together industry leaders, investors, policymakers, and experts to shape the future of the minerals sector collectively.

The Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar al-Khorayef, confirmed that the international conference is considered the most important in the world, with the support of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Khorayef pointed out that the conference's third edition will include the supply and demand of the most used mineral, playing a crucial role in the global shift towards clean energy.

It will establish a platform for discussion between metal-producing and consuming countries and ensure continuity of investment in the sector, starting with mines, manufacturing, refining, and processing operations.

"Recognizing the sector's challenges, there's an urgency to develop a clear roadmap and address the growing demand for critical minerals essentials for energy transition. We must facilitate dialogue, decision-making, and collaboration among stakeholders to realize our ambitious energy transition goals," said the Minister.

He stressed that the third edition will continue as a pioneering platform to lay more foundations for participation in decisions and procedures.

The goals are shared between investors, mining companies, and parties worldwide and will also work to highlight the role that the targeted region can play in achieving the world's goals in green transformation.

The main events of FMF will take place on January 10-11, convening ministers, mining investment leaders, and several prominent figures and innovators from a cross-section of global minerals and mining companies.

The sessions will foster rich dialogue on industry trends, investments, and sustainable practices.



Schengen Visa Applications in Saudi Arabia Grew by 23% in 2024

Visa applicants are seen at the Visa Center in Riyadh to complete their application procedures. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Visa applicants are seen at the Visa Center in Riyadh to complete their application procedures. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Schengen Visa Applications in Saudi Arabia Grew by 23% in 2024

Visa applicants are seen at the Visa Center in Riyadh to complete their application procedures. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Visa applicants are seen at the Visa Center in Riyadh to complete their application procedures. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

As travel and tourism continue to grow, despite the challenges faced by local, regional, and international businesses and projects, VFS Global has revealed that demand for Schengen visas in Saudi Arabia has increased significantly by 23% this year.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Zubin Karkaria, founder and CEO of VFS Global, said that the company has managed the visa procedures for the Saudi Ministry of Tourism’s Trailblazers program, which works to send 100,000 students to Europe for training in the tourism and travel sectors.

He added: “Our strategy aims to provide long-term value to all stakeholders, including the Saudi government and its citizens, contributing to Saudi Arabia’s vision of creating a diverse and sustainable economy by applying some of our modern solutions to our operations in the Kingdom.”

Karkaria emphasized that Saudi Arabia is a key market for VFS Global’s business, noting that the company has expanded its presence and services in the Kingdom over the years through strategic partnerships to facilitate visa services for travelers. These partnerships include agreements with chambers of commerce, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Aramco.

He further stated: “VFS Global strictly adheres to service-level agreements with its government clients, managing non-judicial and administrative tasks related to visa applications, passports, and consular services.”

As international travel grows in emerging markets, there has been an increasing need for specialized services to meet the demands of governments and visa applicants globally. “This led us to develop an approach that benefits both parties, where we handle all administrative procedures necessary for visa processing,” Karkaria explained.

According to him, VFS Global enjoys a long-standing partnership with governments in the European Union, working closely with them in the countries where they operate to provide visa application services. He noted the ongoing rise in demand for international travel and visa issuance.

“The initial challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic, which directly impacted travel and related sectors, was dealing with the volatile business environment. We quickly recognized both the severity of the crisis and the opportunity to transform our operations to prepare our organization for the future,” he said.

He continued: “For instance, by April 2020, 3,196 of our 3,384 visa application centers worldwide were temporarily closed in response to the global crisis. However, within just seven months, we resumed operations at 1,600 centers, representing more than half of our global network, enabling us to serve over 50 government clients across 129 countries while implementing new health and safety measures to protect both staff and visa applicants.”

Karkaria said that over the past 23 years, the company played a critical role in helping its clients manage the rapid growth in visa demand in a cost-effective and highly secure manner.

He added: “We have also developed innovative solutions tailored to our government clients, such as LIDProTM, which allows them to process visa applications from multiple locations via a centralized electronic hub.” VFS Global is the trusted partner of 67 government clients and operates in 151 countries.

Karkaria stated that the company supports travel to the Kingdom by providing Saudi visa services since 2023.

“Through our partnership with the Saudi Visa and Travel Solutions company, we operate and manage Saudi visa service centers in 45 countries worldwide,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He added: “We are committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans to develop and grow tourism by expanding Saudi visa services in partnership with the Saudi Visa and Travel Solutions company. We are also in the process of appointing relationship managers for key government and private sector entities.”

Karkaria noted that Saudi Arabia has recently launched an educational visa to boost the education sector by supporting international institutions in establishing branches in the Kingdom and attracting international students to study and reside in the country.

In this context, VFS Global will help international institutions establish branches in Saudi Arabia and assist potential Saudi students in pursuing their careers at various international universities through professional guidance and recruitment services.

VFS Global established its visa application center operations in Saudi Arabia in 2005, providing visa and passport services on behalf of 31 governments through a network of 95 visa application centers.

The company operates in 14 locations across Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, Hail, Jubail, Makkah, Jazan, Qassim, Al-Kharj, Tabuk, Madinah, Najran, and Al-Jawf.

Karkaria stated, “We see tremendous potential in artificial intelligence to accelerate and improve visa application procedures. Our partnership with the Responsible AI Institute reflects our strong commitment to using this technology in a reliable and ethical manner, applying the highest security standards.”

“Most importantly, we are committed to using AI in accordance with the regulations and procedures implemented by the governments we work with. We are ready to help our government clients integrate AI into the visa application process,” he added.