With only a few days left, over 85 governments from key mineral-producing and consumer nations, including 16 countries from the leading G20 economies, and around 50 ministers and 13 vice ministers, have confirmed they will join the 2025 Future Minerals Forum (FMF) Ministerial Roundtable on January 14, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The fourth annual edition of the meeting will also see the participation of more than 50 international organisations, as well as top mining industry leaders, making it a truly global event.

The meeting is set to be the largest and most senior gathering of mineral resources officials in the world, as they come together to lead global action on increasing the supply of minerals to meet the surging demands of the energy transition and create development opportunities in supplier countries.

The Ministerial Roundtable, a multi-stakeholder, government-led initiative, is the traditional opener of FMF, spurring international action to increase investment in mineral supply and build capacity in the Super Region of Africa, Western and Central Asia, and other supply regions.

Part of the issues to be discussed at the meeting are the progress made over the past year on the three Ministerial Roundtable initiatives. They are:

• Development of an International Critical Minerals Framework which provides guidelines for building resilient and transparent supply chains;
• Establishment of Centers of Excellence spanning the Super Region. These focus on capacity building in essential areas such as: sustainability (Morocco), talent development (South Africa) and technology innovation (Saudi Arabia); and
• Advancements in Certification Systems introduced to ensure responsible mineral sourcing.

H.E. Bandar Alkhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, will chair the Roundtable with an opening address highlighting the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainable mineral development, reaffirming its role in enhancing the sector, and discussing opportunities for global cooperation to address challenges and harness the vast potentials offered by the minerals sector.

Joining him are high-profile leaders, including G20 ministers from large supplier and financing such as Brazil, South Africa, the DRC, India, Egypt, Italy, Nigeria, Qatar, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Thailand, Morocco, Indonesia, France, USA and the United Kingdom, discussing opportunities for global cooperation. Some of these ministers include:

• H.E. Prof. Dr. Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Italy
• The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade, UK
• H.E. Alexandre Silveira, Brazil’s Minister of Mines and Energy
• H.E. Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Minister for Coal and Mines, India
• H.E. Parks Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, South Africa
• H.E. Kizito Pakapomba Kapinga Mulume, Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo
• H.E. Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Egypt
• H.E. Dr. Dele Henry Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals, Nigeria
• H.E. Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Morocco

His Excellency Khalid Al-Mudaifer, the Vice-Minister for Mining Affairs of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, emphasises that, “The meeting is an important step towards achieving sustainable development in the mining and minerals sector globally, noting that the mining industry plays a crucial role in achieving sustainable development and growth in the mining sector.

“The Ministerial Roundtable is an ideal platform for delivering concrete solutions, developing legislation on best practices in the field of sustainable mining, and exploring ways to invest in mining projects to achieve economic and social development in producing countries.

“This year, discussions will seek to enhance collaboration between governments, industry, and communities to drive more investment in minerals, and development through value addition in supplier countries. We want to support the pressing need for sustainable mining practices, resilient supply chains, and value-driven partnerships in the minerals industry.”

Al-Mudaifer highlighted the strategic importance of these initiatives: “Establishing a network of Centers of Excellence will drive research, technology transfer and the adoption of responsible mining practices. This will attract investment, equip a new generation with valuable skills and support the creation of a modern, high-tech industry that benefits local communities.”

Importantly, the outcomes of the Ministerial Roundtable are not confined to the event itself but form an ongoing, year-round program. Regional Coordination Groups will continue to drive the implementation of key initiatives, ensuring that the discussions translate into actionable results that deliver impact.

Al-Mudaifer added: “FMF is rapidly emerging as the largest global hub for minerals collaboration and action – no other platform brings together government ministers and senior industry leaders at this scale. Together, we are shaping the future of the minerals sector, not just as a key enabler of the energy transition, but also one of economic development.”

Now in its fourth year, FMF has grown exponentially from its inaugural event in 2022, with organisers expecting attendance to swell to over 20,000 for the 2025 edition, taking place at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, in Riyadh, from January 14-16. The event is organised by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

During a recent press conference to launch the event, Al-Mudaifer said the event continued to not only showcase the mineral exploration and development opportunities available within the Kingdom, but also bring together both mineral producing and consuming country representatives to address the number of challenges facing global supply chains.

International Mining is a media sponsor of the 2025 Future Minerals Forum and will be reporting from Riyadh next week. For more information on the event, click here.