The fourth Future Minerals Forum, scheduled to be held in Riyadh in January, will host two prominent international meetings: the second International Meeting of Geological Survey Authorities and the first Meeting of Centers of Excellence and Technology, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.
The events aim to bolster international cooperation in mining and advance geological and research capacities to increase the production of minerals essential for the energy transition and broader industrial development.
The second Meeting of International Geological Survey Leaders, set for January 14, will gather heads of geological survey authorities from Africa and Asia, as well as representatives from the US Geological Survey, British Geological Survey, French Geological Survey (BRGM), and Geological Survey of Finland (GTK).
Discussions at the meeting will focus on boosting geological capacities within the Greater Region, spanning Africa to West and Central Asia, to attract more investments. This includes empowering geologists, leveraging digital technology and artificial intelligence to more accurately identify mineral sites, and exploring the establishment of a regional center of excellence to foster innovation, develop skills, and adopt technology in mineral-producing countries.
Meanwhile, the forum will feature the inaugural Meeting of Centers of Excellence and Technology, an initiative of the International Ministerial Meeting, with the participation of academic institutions, including specialized institutes and universities. The meeting aims to create a regional network focused on building capacities and accelerating technology in the Greater Region to secure its leadership in the minerals sectors.
