5th Ministerial Roundtable Concludes with 100 Governments and 59 Multilaterals, Laying Framework for a New Age of Minerals Development
The 5th Ministerial Roundtable, which forms part of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF), concluded in Riyadh today. FMF is organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and is taking place from 13 to 15 January 2026. The Roundtable marked a significant milestone in global cooperation on minerals, reinforcing the shift toward more responsible, resilient, and sustainable mineral supply chains worldwide.
In his opening remarks, His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, welcomed participants and emphasized that this edition represents a defining moment for what has become the largest global ministerial gathering of its kind.
He noted that participation has expanded markedly since the launch of the Roundtable and FMF in 2022, from 32 governments to ministers and senior representatives from more than 100 countries, alongside 59 international organizations, including all G20 member states, supplier countries, and consumer nations. This broad participation reflects the growing recognition that mineral supply is a shared global responsibility requiring coordinated, inclusive solutions.
The Minister reviewed key achievements delivered through the Ministerial Roundtable and FMF over the past five years. These include: collaboration with the World Bank Group to address financing gaps in exploration and infrastructure funding to the global agenda; leadership in advancing transparency through standards that reflect the realities of supplier countries; and the establishment of a Network of Centers of Excellence to build capacity across supply regions, focusing on talent development, sustainability, technology enablement, and institutional strengthening.
He announced the establishment of a Permanent Ministerial Steering Group, tasked with providing strategic guidance to the Ministerial Roundtable and FMF, monitoring implementation of existing initiatives, and proposing new areas of cooperation. The group will ensure balanced geographic representation from producing, exporting, and consuming countries, with an initial rotating membership of 19 countries, to ensure continuity and accountability across the Roundtable’s work.
Meanwhile, His Excellency Eng. Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs, stated that the mining sector has entered a decisive phase globally. He stressed that global collaboration in mining is no longer optional, but an urgent necessity to accelerate mineral supply and ensure long-term sustainability, meeting the increasing demand for minerals critical to modern industries and emerging technologies.
Al-Mudaifer reviewed progress achieved during 2025 across the three core initiatives of the Ministerial Roundtable. These include: advancing an international framework for critical minerals to strengthen cooperation on resilient supply chains, infrastructure, and policy alignment; developing a sustainability framework that reflects the priorities of producing countries, while enhancing transparency through traceability and certification systems; and establishing a Network of Centers of Excellence across the extended mining region spanning Africa, West and Central Asia, and Latin America to build technical, institutional, and human capacity.
He commended the contributions of global partners and experts, including the World Bank Group, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining (IGF), and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), for their role in translating dialogue into impact-driven outcomes.
The Vice Minister presented a draft of Future of Minerals Framework, outlining principles, objectives, and proposed governance mechanisms. The Framework provides an inclusive, multilateral process for producing, exporting, and consuming countries to align priorities, mobilize public and private investment, and develop mineral value chains, among other things.
Countries interested in being involved in the Framework have the opportunity to comment on the draft until the end of March 2026, enabling the rapid activation of its governance arrangements. The Framework is the culmination of the FMF’s work since 2023.
Ms. Valerie Levkoff, Vice President for Infrastructure at the World Bank Group, presented a new minerals strategy to support countries in developing minerals and their associated value chains, extending through regional processing and manufacturing, to create local value and employment opportunities.
The strategy, built around three pillars: policies, governance, and institutional capacity; core infrastructure; and private sector mobilization and innovation, was welcomed by participants as a critical partnership to unlock funding for infrastructure and strengthen global supply-chain resilience.
Members were also briefed on progress toward developing an international standard for responsible mining and supply-chain transparency, including an agreement to launch a Copper Traceability Standard as an initial pilot.
They praised Saudi Arabia’s leadership in convening global dialogue on minerals through the Future Minerals Forum and its government-led Ministerial Roundtable, recognizing both platforms as catalysts for shaping the sector and driving a new age of minerals for development.
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.