Ministerial participants at the inaugural Future Minerals Forum (FMF) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last month, emphasised the need for collaboration with mining industry stakeholders.

The event held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, began with a Ministerial Roundtable, attended by 15 Ministers and 25 representatives from across the region and beyond. Discussions focused on three key themes. Ministers, representatives of multilateral organisations and agencies, mining leaders and non-governmental organisations from 31 countries spoke of the important contribution that mining can and does make to their societies, and how they are working to ensure that they maximise the benefits of their mining sectors and supply chains in support of their societies’ sustainable long-term economic prosperity and resilience.

Contributions also centered on the critical role that metals and minerals will play in the just transition to a low-carbon energy future, and the role each country in the region can play in developing sustainable and responsible mineral value chains. Finally, Ministers discussed opportunities for deeper collaboration across the region.

Participants of the Ministerial Roundtable emphasised the importance of collaboration and coordination between governments and their partners from the private sector and civil society.