[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" size="medium" ids="9725,9726"] RIYADH — Saudi Arabia Mining & Minerals Exhibition & Symposium 2015 kicks off today (Tuesday) with Minister of Petroleum & Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi delivering a keynote address on the achievements and outlook for the kingdom's mining industry and downstream value chains. The inaugural event for Saudi Arabia's mining industry is designed to engage all stakeholders in the sector from upstream exploration to downstream industrial development. Over 3,000 delegates are expected to attend; as well as more than 50 exhibitors from 10 different countries, many of whom are considered major players in the global commodities and mining industry. "The government is keen to unlock the huge potential of its vast mineral reserves and has declared mining as the 3rd Pillar of Saudi Arabia's economy. The primary goal in developing the sector is diversification of the economy away from oil and gas dependency and the creation of jobs for the Kingdom's young, fast growing population. The event will provide a forum for discussion, learning and the transfer of technology to accelerate development of the mining sector and introduce foreign mining companies and technology suppliers in that process," said Philip McKean, Managing Director, Montgomery Star, the UK-based company in charge of organising the exhibition component of Saudi Mining and Minerals 2015. Visitors can expect to see a vast array of products, technology and equipment – the best on global markets to help existing mine operators improve extraction techniques and introduce environmentally aware processing efficiencies. Dr Zohair A Nawab, President, Saudi Geological Survey will present the latest perspective on the Kingdom's mineral endowment; to be followed by Sultan bin Jamal Shawli, Deputy Minister for Mineral Resources who will deliver a keynote speech on the Saudi's vision and growth strategy for its mining and mineral sector. A top-level panel session representing leaders of key stakeholders in the kingdom's minerals and mining sector will interactively explore the opportunities that the kingdom's mining sector will create and the challenges that will have to be overcome by the sector in order to achieve its full potential. The Saudi Mining & Minerals Exhibition & Symposium 2015, jointly organized by MEED Events and Montgomery Star, is supported by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources and the National Industrial Cluster Development Programme; as well as by the Saudi Arabian Mining Company Ma'aden, Atheeb Intergraph Saudi Company, Outotec, Ali Salem Al Raddadi Factory, Saudi Specialty Chemical Ind. Co. Ltd., ThyssenKrupp, SRK Consulting, Roscoe Postle Associates, Inc. and The Saudi British Bank. The Exhibition runs until Oct. 29, 2015 at the Prince Sultan Grand Hall, Al Faisaliah Exhibition & Convention Centre in Riyadh.
