An official Yemeni delegation participated on Tuesday in the fifth edition of the International Mining Conference, hosted by the Saudi capital Riyadh, according to the Yemeni News Agency (SABA). The conference discusses the future of the global mining sector amid growing international competition over mineral resources.
According to the agency, the Yemeni delegation was headed by Minister of Oil and Minerals Saeed Al-Shammasi at the conference, which is organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. The event brings together representatives from more than 160 countries, along with ministers of mining and energy, senior officials, and global industry leaders, to address issues related to investment, financing, exploration, and mineral supply chains.
Speaking during the ministerial roundtable session, the Minister of Oil and Minerals said Yemen’s participation reflects the government’s direction toward encouraging and revitalizing investment in the mining sector, noting that the sector represents a key pillar capable of supporting the national economy if developed in an “optimal and sustainable” manner.
Al-Shammasi pointed out that Yemen possesses promising mining opportunities in several metallic minerals, including gold, silver, and copper, in addition to rare earth elements. He emphasized the ministry’s readiness to provide incentives and facilities for international companies interested in operating in the country.
The minister also stressed the importance of benefiting from the expertise of other countries and strengthening technical and technological partnerships to enhance exploration activities and facilitate technology transfer. He added that the conference serves as an international platform for opening new channels of cooperation, according to SABA.
Yemen’s mining sector continues to face challenges related to security and economic conditions, alongside weak infrastructure and a lack of major investments in recent years, making the realization of these ambitions dependent on broader circumstances beyond the scope of international conferences alone.
