The second international exhibition and forum on Mineral Exploration and Applications (MENA-EX 2009), takes place at the Jeddah Hilton from Jan. 18-20 and will feature 1,000 experts to discuss innovations and changes in the industry. The forum, held under the supervision of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MOPM), will feature around 80 international companies exhibiting their products related to exploration and mining in the Kingdom and around the world, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 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 of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to the mineral resources industry. MOPM's agency for Mineral Resources has estimated the income of the Saudi mineral-based industries at SR14 billion, with profits up to SR5.2 billion, while investment in this sector amounted to about SR45 billion. Several key issues will be discussed such as the changing economy and investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia, exploring Saudi Arabia's emerging mining industry, available opportunities for the 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. The administration of mineral resources will present the forum including; the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS); Saudi Arabian Mining Company MA'ADEN; Austrade; the Saudi Ministry of Transport; the Saudi Ports Authority; the Saudi Railways Organization, and British CWC.
