Saudi Mining Minister to Visit Chile, Lithium Expected on Agenda

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat photo
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat photo
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Saudi Mining Minister to Visit Chile, Lithium Expected on Agenda

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat photo
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat photo

Chile's government has said that Saudi Arabia's mining minister will travel to the Latin American country in July and plans to meet with his counterpart in Santiago.
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef told Reuters in March the Kingdom was interested in sourcing lithium abroad, as it aims to enter the electric vehicle sector.
"He will indeed be in Chile (in July) and has asked for a meeting with the minister. But the date is not yet set," the ministry said in an email to Reuters.
A government source had told Reuters about the visit on Thursday, saying the two officials would discuss potential investments in lithium.
Chile is the world's second-largest producer of lithium, a key material for making the batteries that power electric vehicles.



Saudi Arabia Assumes WTO General Council Presidency for 2025–2026

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)
The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Assumes WTO General Council Presidency for 2025–2026

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)
The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. In a historic milestone, Al-Moqbel becomes the first Arab and Middle Eastern delegate to assume this position, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

The WTO General Council, which convenes throughout the year, oversees the organization’s operations between ministerial conferences, held biennially. As the highest decision-making body at the level of heads of missions, the council plays a crucial role in shaping global trade policies.

During Saudi Arabia's presidency, the General Council is set to address several key issues, including preparations for the 14th Ministerial Conference, scheduled to be held in Cameroon in March 2026.

The agenda will also focus on essential WTO reforms, particularly the dispute settlement mechanism; advancing negotiations on the second phase of the Fisheries Subsidy Agreement; and addressing agriculture, food security, and development concerns.

Other priorities include integrating multilateral agreements, such as the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the E-Commerce Agreement, into the WTO framework.

Commenting on the appointment, Al-Moqbel emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the WTO General Council reflects its growing role in the international economic landscape, leveraging its global economic influence to strengthen multilateral trade cooperation.