As the global demand for minerals and metals will grow exponentially in the coming years and decades to meet the needs of the modern world and enable the energy transition, this seems a pivotal time for the minerals industry.

The Future Minerals Forum (FMF) being held from January 9-11 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, KSA, will bring up all relevant but important discussions.

The FMF serves as a platform designed to enable the creation of resilient mineral value chains in the vast resource-rich super region of Africa, Western and Central Asia.

Saudi Arabia has all the right ingredients to become a world-class minerals value chain hub for the region.

Strategically located at the nexus of Asia, Africa and Europe, with well-developed infrastructure and high domestic demand, the Kingdom has the vision and commitment to develop its mining sector and offers a well-developed economy with high levels of growth and security.

Comprising three main components, the Ministerial Roundtable, Conference, and International Exhibition, the Future Minerals Forum serves as a platform where government ministers, global mining CEOs and stakeholders from the region and all over the world can come together and turn talk into action.

The inaugural FMF was held in January 2022, attracting more than 140 senior speakers from all over the world.

In 2023, FMF attracted 249 speakers who delved deeper into the key issues facing the region and its minerals sector and identified areas for action.

The second Ministerial Roundtable took place in advance of the FMF 2023 edition and brought together more than 60 government ministers and delegations along with over 20 international organisations.