The city will host the two-day second international exhibition and forum on mineral exploration and applications (MENA-EX 2009) from Jan. 18. The exhibition will be held under the supervision of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), Saudi Arabian Mining Company Maaden, Austrade, the Ministry of Transport, the Saudi Ports Authority, the Saudi Railways Organization, and British CWC at the Hilton Hotel. Eighty international companies will exhibit their products in the field of exploration and mining in the Kingdom and other countries in the world. More than 1,000 experts, businessmen and businesswomen in the mining sector will participate in the forum, SPA said on Sunday. The forum will discuss a number of topics including the changing economy and investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia, exploring Saudi Arabia's emerging mining industry, the available opportunities for non-Arab investors, mining technology, sustainable development of the mining industry across the region, and trends of financing mining and mineral projects in the Kingdom. Experts in the field of mineral resources have reiterated the importance of organizing the exhibition, and pointed out that the exhibition reflects the great attention being given by the government to the sector of mineral resources. The turnover of Saudi mineral-based industries has been estimated at SR14 billion, with profits up to SR5.2 billion, while investment in this sector amounted to SR45 billion. __
