Saudi Arabia solidified major international partnerships this week by signing mineral resources cooperation agreements with Chile, Canada, and Brazil, that will deepen technical collaboration and investment across critical mineral supply chains. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources inked the Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) during the Ministerial Roundtable at the fifth annual Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh.
Minister Bandar Al-Khorayef finalized the deals alongside counterparts from Santiago, Ottawa, and Brasília on Wednesday. This move directly supports Saudi industrial diversification goals and builds resilient global mineral networks. Furthermore, the partnerships prioritize sustainable resource development that benefits all participating nations equally.
Unprecedented Global Gathering Unites Sector
The concurrent Ministerial Roundtable attracted over 100 countries including every G20 member and the European Union. Fifty-nine multilateral organizations and industry associations joined this largest-ever global mining ministerial assembly. Consequently, Riyadh cemented its position as the definitive platform for solving sector challenges through cooperation.
Opening the forum, Al-Khorayef declared minerals central to achieving worldwide economic and energy transitions, stressing that secure supply chains demand stronger investment, advanced technology adoption, and trust-building across value chains. Al-Khorayef also highlighted tangible progress including World Bank collaborations to fix exploration financing gaps.
Saudi leadership announced two major initiatives to sustain momentum. First, a new network of excellence centers will build talent and sustainability capabilities in mineral-producing regions. Second, a Permanent Ministerial Group featuring 17 rotating nations will guide global mining strategy long-term. This geographically balanced body represents producers, exporters, and consumers alike.
The Kingdom’s proactive diplomacy demonstrates its growing influence in shaping mining’s future while securing resources for its industrial transformation. These alliances mark significant progress toward a stable, innovative global minerals ecosystem.
