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Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 13, 2026 — Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM), has signed three Memoranda of Understanding with the Republic of Chile, Canada, and the Federative Republic of Brazil to strengthen cooperation in the mining and minerals sector. The agreements were signed on January 13, on the sidelines of the fifth Ministerial Roundtable, the headline opener of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF).
These agreements highlight the Kingdom’s commitment to expanding its global partnerships and strengthening both technical and investment collaboration across the entire mineral value chain.
The details of the agreements include:
- MoU with the Ministry of Mines and Energy of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- MoU with the Ministry of Mining of the Republic of Chile in the mineral resources field
- MoU with the Department of Natural Resources of Canada in the mineral resources field
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) also signed three strategic MoUs with leading international institutions to promote innovation, scientific research, and the localization of advanced technologies in the mining sector. The agreements are part of FMF’s broader agenda to create a network of centers of excellence that support capacity building across the Super Region of Africa, Central and Western Asia, and Latin America.
These include an agreement with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Morocco, to foster innovation-led collaboration in exploration, mining, mineral processing, and mine rehabilitation; an MoU with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa to collaborate on digitalization and automation in mining and mineral processing operations; and a further agreement with the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom focused on developing innovative, energy-efficient mineral processing technologies.
The fifth Ministerial Roundtable recorded the highest level of global participation in its history, with confirmed representation from over 100 countries, including all G20 members and the European Union; 59 multilateral organizations; industry associations; and non-governmental organizations, as well as 14 senior business leaders.
This level of participation reflects the growing global standing of the Future Minerals Forum and its government-led Ministerial Roundtable as a leading platform for aligning perspectives, promoting partnerships, and advancing practical solutions to shared challenges across the mining and minerals sector.
About the Future Minerals Forum
The Future Minerals Forum (FMF), launched in 2022, is the world's premier platform for the minerals industry. FMF stands at the forefront of global industry connections, bringing together governments, international organizations, and stakeholders to collectively shape the future of the minerals industry. With 18,000 participants from 165 countries, including 89 government representatives, FMF serves as a catalyst for global collaboration.
The Forum is renowned for its unique and audacious approach, confronting industry challenges head-on through genuine dialogue to promote a responsible and resilient mineral supply chain, enable development, advance global electrification goals, enhance global security, and accelerate the digital revolution.
Through the Ministerial Roundtable, conference, and exhibition, and specialized Mineral Technology and Exploration zones, the global conversation on minerals takes center stage, driving innovation and collaboration toward a sustainable future.
