Arab News
Arab news,
Wed, Oct 08, 2025 | Rabi al-Thani 16, 1447
Saudi industry minister sets out investment opportunities to Greek officials
Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia and Greece are set to strengthen
collaboration in industry and mineral resources following high-level talks in
Athens between government officials.
The Kingdom’s Minister of Industry and Mineral
Resources Bandar Alkhorayef met with the European country’s Minister of
Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou and Minister of Development Takis
Theodorikakos, with the discussions focused on expanding strategic partnerships
across industrial, mining, and maritime sectors, according to an official
statement.
Both sides explored opportunities for Greek
investors in the Kingdom’s fast-growing mining sector, as well as avenues for
knowledge exchange and technology adoption in mineral exploration and
processing.
The meetings also highlight Saudi Arabia’s efforts
to position itself as a global hub for mineral development, leveraging its vast
untapped resources and the regulatory reforms introduced under Vision 2030 to
attract international investors.
In a post on its official X account, the Ministry
of Industry and Mineral Resources said: “Alkhorayef discussed with the Greek
Minister of Environment and Energy ways to develop joint cooperation in the
mining sector and investment opportunities available in the Kingdom for Greek
mining companies.”
It added: “He also discussed opportunities for
exchanging expertise and transferring the latest technologies and innovative
solutions in the fields of exploration, extraction, and mine management.”
In a separate meeting with Theodorikakos,
Alkhorayef discussed expanding cooperation in industrial development, including
maritime industries, infrastructure projects, and specialized industrial
clusters.
The two ministers emphasized the importance of
enhancing bilateral economic ties and supporting joint ventures that can
strengthen trade and industrial integration between the Kingdom and Greece.
Alkhorayef extended an official invitation
to both Greek ministers to participate in the fifth edition of the Future
Minerals Forum, which will be held in Riyadh from Jan. 13 to 15, 2026.
The visit aligns with the Kingdom’s broader
strategy to accelerate growth in the mining and industrial sectors, which have
become central pillars of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification agenda.
Mining exports have surged by about 80 percent,
driven by increased production of phosphate, iron, aluminum, copper, and gold.
Current and planned investments in the sector are
estimated at SR180 billion ($48 billion), underscoring Saudi Arabia’s ambition
to position itself as a global hub for mineral resources while attracting
high-quality foreign investment into downstream industries.