Deputy Minister of Industry: Saudi Arabia to Establish International Frameworks for Sustainability in Mining Sector

Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Eng. Khalid Al-Mudaifer (Photo: Turki Al-Aqili)
Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Eng. Khalid Al-Mudaifer (Photo: Turki Al-Aqili)
TT

Deputy Minister of Industry: Saudi Arabia to Establish International Frameworks for Sustainability in Mining Sector

Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Eng. Khalid Al-Mudaifer (Photo: Turki Al-Aqili)
Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Eng. Khalid Al-Mudaifer (Photo: Turki Al-Aqili)

Saudi Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Eng. Khalid Al-Mudaifer revealed that spending on exploration in Saudi Arabia’s mining sector has seen a significant rise, increasing from approximately SAR 100 million ($26.6 million) in 2018 to over SAR 500 million ($133.3 million) annually.

Al-Mudaifer stated that these funds are being invested in local service companies, including drilling and laboratory services, as well as employing Saudi and international professionals.

The deputy minister made these remarks during a press conference held to unveil details of the fourth edition of the International Mining Conference, scheduled to take place in Riyadh from January 14-16.

Al-Mudaifer described the conference as a key platform for addressing challenges in the mining sector and finding practical solutions. The event will host representatives from 85 countries, including mineral producers and consumers, alongside over 50 international organizations, trade unions, and community organizations.

The conference will feature more than 75 sessions with over 250 speakers, including ministers and senior local and international officials, covering pressing topics such as project financing, promoting future mining zones, the role of minerals in community development, and the impact of technology on the sector.

Al-Mudaifer emphasized Saudi Arabia’s ambition to establish international cooperation frameworks in mining, driven by its historical significance and geographic location as a trusted energy supplier. He highlighted the need for a unified global effort to address the sector’s growing challenges, including insufficient exploration spending, which currently falls short of the level required to achieve sustainable growth.

The deputy minister noted that increased exploration investment, technological innovation, and attracting further investment are essential for overcoming these challenges. Despite these obstacles, he remains optimistic, citing the rising global demand for minerals as a significant economic growth driver.

Saudi Arabia is experiencing significant opportunities in mining, particularly in exploration. Al-Mudaifer pointed out that new mineralized zones, covering areas between 2,000 and 4,000 square kilometers, have been announced for 2024—a tenfold increase compared to 2023.

Previously, only 1,000 square kilometers were allocated annually for exploration, but this year, approximately 10,000 square kilometers were offered, he remarked. Several major international companies have entered the latest investment competitions, committing to exploration spending, employing young Saudi geologists, and supporting local communities near exploration sites.

Investments and Regulatory Advancements

According to Al-Mudaifer, Saudi Arabia has seen substantial investments in the mining and minerals sectors, particularly in iron, aluminum, electric vehicle batteries, copper, and chemicals. Current investments exceed SAR 120 billion ($32 billion) and are projected to reach SAR 300 billion ($80 billion) by 2035.

He also noted that the Kingdom, is one of the fastest-advancing countries in developing mining regulations and infrastructure. This progress is attributed to the comprehensive strategies under Saudi Vision 2030, which seek to position the Kingdom as a global leader in all sectors, with a strong focus on sustainability.

Aramco Fields

Al-Mudaifer disclosed that Saudi Arabia successfully extracted lithium from brine samples in Aramco’s fields and is planning to launch a commercial pilot program for direct lithium extraction soon. The project will be led by Lithium Infinity (LihyTech), a startup from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with Aramco and the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden).

Sustainable Development

Ali Al-Mutairi, General Supervisor of the International Mining Conference, stated that inclusivity will be a cornerstone of the event, which aims to bring together all stakeholders in the global mining industry, including governments, international policy-making organizations, NGOs, and investors with the financial capacity to support major projects.

One of the primary goals of the sector, he added, is to foster community development, aligning with the focus of rights of organizations on environmental sustainability and talent development to create job opportunities and promote sustainable growth.

Global Networks

The upcoming conference will spotlight G20 nations and other resource-rich countries, drawing participation from 85 nations and various organizations, including UN-affiliated ones.

A notable new event on the conference’s sidelines will be a meeting of global centers of excellence and technology to establish a regional and international network aimed at building human capacity, accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies, and transferring expertise from developed to less-developed countries.

The conference will also introduce the Investment Pathway, a two-day program designed to address one of the mining industry’s critical challenges: financing, particularly for early-stage exploration projects.

Knowledge Exchange

The accompanying three-day exhibition will focus on modern mining technologies, Al-Mutairi said, adding that it will feature national pavilions from leading mineral-producing countries, including Australia, Canada, Brazil, and India, fostering technological and knowledge exchange.

For the first time, the conference will host a Knowledge Exchange Day, providing a dedicated platform to share the latest developments in mineral information, geology, technology, sustainability, and talent development, with the aim to enhance collaboration and expertise-sharing among global specialists.



IMF and Arab Monetary Fund Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
TT

IMF and Arab Monetary Fund Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference on Emerging Market Economies (EME) to enhance cooperation between the two institutions.

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki, SPA reported.

The agreement aims to strengthen coordination in economic and financial policy areas, including surveillance and lending activities, data and analytical exchange, capacity building, and the provision of technical assistance, in support of regional financial and economic stability.

Both sides affirmed that the MoU represents an important step toward deepening their strategic partnership and strengthening the regional financial safety net, serving member countries and enhancing their ability to address economic challenges.


Saudi Chambers Federation Announces First Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
TT

Saudi Chambers Federation Announces First Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

The Federation of Saudi Chambers announced the formation of the first joint Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council for its inaugural term (1447–1451 AH) and the election of Salman bin Hassan Al-Oqayel as its chairman.

Al-Oqayel said the council’s formation marks a pivotal milestone in economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, reflecting a practical approach to enabling the business sectors in both countries to capitalize on promising investment opportunities and strengthen bilateral trade and investment partnerships, SPA reported.

He noted that trade between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reached approximately SAR9.5 billion by the end of November 2025, including SAR8 billion in Saudi exports and SAR1.5 billion in Kuwaiti imports.


Leading Harvard Trade Economist Says Saudi Arabia Holds Key to Success in Fragmented Global Economy

Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
TT

Leading Harvard Trade Economist Says Saudi Arabia Holds Key to Success in Fragmented Global Economy

Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).

Harvard University economics professor Pol Antràs said Saudi Arabia represents an exceptional model in the shifting global trade landscape, differing fundamentally from traditional emerging-market frameworks. He also stressed that globalization has not ended but has instead re-formed into what he describes as fragmented integration.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, Antràs said Saudi Arabia’s Vision-driven structural reforms position the Kingdom to benefit from the ongoing phase of fragmented integration, adding that the country’s strategic focus on logistics transformation and artificial intelligence constitutes a key engine for sustainable growth that extends beyond the volatility of global crises.

Antràs, the Robert G. Ory Professor of Economics at Harvard University, is one of the leading contemporary theorists of international trade. His research, which reshaped understanding of global value chains, focuses on how firms organize cross-border production and how regulation and technological change influence global trade flows and corporate decision-making.

He said conventional classifications of economies often obscure important structural differences, noting that the term emerging markets groups together countries with widely divergent industrial bases. Economies that depend heavily on manufacturing exports rely critically on market access and trade integration and therefore face stronger competitive pressures from Chinese exports that are increasingly shifting toward alternative markets.

Saudi Arabia, by contrast, exports extensively while facing limited direct competition from China in its primary export commodity, a situation that creates a strategic opportunity. The current environment allows the Kingdom to obtain imports from China at lower cost and access a broader range of goods that previously flowed largely toward the United States market.

Addressing how emerging economies should respond to dumping pressures and rising competition, Antràs said countries should minimize protectionist tendencies and instead position themselves as committed participants in the multilateral trading system, allowing foreign producers to access domestic markets while encouraging domestic firms to expand internationally.

He noted that although Chinese dumping presents concerns for countries with manufacturing sectors that compete directly with Chinese production, the risk is lower for Saudi Arabia because it does not maintain a large manufacturing base that overlaps directly with Chinese exports. Lower-cost imports could benefit Saudi consumers, while targeted policy tools such as credit programs, subsidies, and support for firms seeking to redesign and upgrade business models represent more effective responses than broad protectionist measures.

Globalization has not ended

Antràs said globalization continues but through more complex structures, with trade agreements increasingly negotiated through diverse arrangements rather than relying primarily on multilateral negotiations. Trade deals will continue to be concluded, but they are likely to become more complex, with uncertainty remaining a defining feature of the global trading environment.

Interest rates and artificial intelligence

According to Antràs, high global interest rates, combined with the additional risk premiums faced by emerging markets, are constraining investment, particularly in sectors that require export financing, capital expenditure, and continuous quality upgrading.

However, he noted that elevated interest rates partly reflect expectations of stronger long-term growth driven by artificial intelligence and broader technological transformation.

He also said if those growth expectations materialize, productivity gains could enable small and medium-sized enterprises to forecast demand more accurately and identify previously untapped markets, partially offsetting the negative effects of higher borrowing costs.

Employment concerns and the role of government

The Harvard professor warned that labor markets face a dual challenge stemming from intensified Chinese export competition and accelerating job automation driven by artificial intelligence, developments that could lead to significant disruptions, particularly among younger workers. He said governments must adopt proactive strategies requiring substantial fiscal resources to mitigate near-term labor-market shocks.

According to Antràs, productivity growth remains the central condition for success: if new technologies deliver the anticipated productivity gains, governments will gain the fiscal space needed to compensate affected groups and retrain the workforce, achieving a balance between addressing short-term disruptions and investing in long-term strategic gains.