Cairo, Riyadh discuss cooperation in mining training, expertise exchange

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi held talks with Saudi Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer on ways to enhance cooperation in training and the exchange of mining expertise.

This came on the sidelines of the Egypt Mining Forum 2026, held in the New Capital.

During the meeting, Badawi said the Egyptian-Saudi relations represent a well-established model of partnership and long-standing cooperation across various fields, stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two countries in mining, given their shared geological characteristics within the Arabian-Nubian Shield and the promising opportunities this offers for exchanging expertise, boosting investment and developing mineral resources.

He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s advanced experience in developing its mining sector, stressing the importance of mutually benefiting from the successful expertise and experiences of both countries in support of efforts to develop the sector and enhance the capabilities of its workforce.

For his part, Al-Mudaifer commended the steps taken by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources to develop Egypt’s mining sector over the past two years.

He highlighted efforts to develop the sector’s institutional framework and transform the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority into an economic authority, enhancing its ability to manage and exploit mineral resources and maximize their returns, alongside efforts to expand mining industries and maximize the added value of mineral resources and ores.

Al-Mudaifer also praised Egypt’s move toward conducting airborne mineral surveys, describing them as an important tool for providing more accurate and comprehensive data on geological and mining potential, supporting exploration activities and enhancing the sector’s attractiveness to mining investment.