Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Eng. Khalid Al-Mudaifer participated in a strategic dialogue session on developing cooperation in the mining and minerals sector at the International Astana Mining and Metallurgy Congress (AMM) in Kazakhstan.
Al-Mudaifer highlighted the shared vision of Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan to increase the mining sector's contribution to GDP and accelerate economic diversification, noting that recent reforms have positioned the Kingdom 10th globally in the Fraser Institute's 2025 Investment Attractiveness Index.
He identified phosphate, aluminum, steel, titanium, and rare earth elements as key opportunities for joint investment. He also stressed that future competitiveness in mining will depend on integrated value chains linking extraction, processing, logistics, and export markets.
Al-Mudaifer also highlighted the Future Minerals Forum, held annually in the Kingdom, as a key platform for addressing global mining challenges. The sixth edition is scheduled for Riyadh in January 2027.