Saudi Arabia & India Strengthen Collaboration in Vital Mineral Industry

Saudi Arabia and India decided to increase their collaboration in the vital mineral industry. Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef, Saudi Arabia's minister of industry and natural resources, met with Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy at a high level to explore new potential for technological cooperation and investment.

According to the government, the recognition of the Geological Survey of India Training Institute (GSITI) as a center of excellence under the Future Minerals Forum is a noteworthy development during the discussion.

"This initiative will facilitate specialised training programmes for geologists from Saudi Arabia, Africa and Central Asia, contributing to capacity building in the global mining sector," the government said.

Building a robust mineral supply chain to lessen reliance on imports and encouraging joint ventures for processing essential minerals to promote sustainable energy technologies were other topics of discussion.Exploring possible collaboration in implementing cutting-edge mining innovations and technology for sustainable mineral exploration and extraction was another goal of the discussion.

The discussion expands on India's participation in the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) 2025 in Riyadh, where Reddy emphasized India's dedication to obtaining vital minerals needed for clean energy systems and the energy transition.

In order to promote international collaborations, the minister also spoke with representatives from Brazil, Italy, and Morocco at the forum.

“This meeting marks a significant step in India’s efforts to develop international partnerships for mineral security and sustainable development, aligned with the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM),” the government said.