By Kayla Lee

The Future Minerals Forum's (FMF) Ministerial Roundtable, scheduled to take place on January 9, ahead of the third Forum, is expected to break records in terms of the number of participants, FMF has announced. 

As confirmed to date, more than 45 out of 80 countries will send ministerial representatives to participate in discussions with stakeholders at the meeting. In addition, 20 official international organizations, 30 non-governmental organizations, and 13 business associations will also participate. 

As the world's highest-level gathering on minerals, the Roundtable marks a historic turning point in the global mining and metals sector. It symbolizes the important influence of the so-called "super zone" stretching from Africa to West and Central Asia, and the Kingdom's leadership role in the sector and region. 

The Ministerial Roundtable, founded by Saudi Arabia, is a government-led, multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at strengthening international cooperation in the production of key minerals in the context of energy sector transformation. 

The meeting comes at a time when the minerals sector is facing unprecedented challenges, with increasing demand for minerals and metals needed during the energy transition, and all countries are competing to ensure secure supply chains. The Ministerial Roundtable further emphasizes the importance of cooperation in addressing these anticipated global challenges. 

Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Saudi Arabia's Undersecretary of State for Mining, emphasized that the number of ministers who have confirmed their attendance at the Roundtable reflects the political and economic importance of the Kingdom, as well as the growing importance of its mineral resources in recent years. 

He added that a meeting of this caliber with such a high level of participation demonstrates the FMF's position as a leading global platform for shaping the future of the minerals industry. 

"The presence of high-level government delegations from mineral producing and consuming countries indicates that governments around the world now recognize the importance of mineral resources and are committed to ensuring reliable supply chains," said Al Mudaiffer. "This is particularly relevant for strategic minerals, which have emerged as an essential component of energy transition programs and projects and related industries. 

The roundtable will also discuss the current state of competition in metals markets that is being observed at the international level and how countries can make room for consensus in this competitive environment.