Union Minister of Coal & Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef, in New Delhi. The meeting was meant to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the critical minerals sector and explore new opportunities for investment and technological advancement.
Both of the leaders emphasized the need for building robust and secure mineral supply chains so as not to depend too much on imports. The availability of essential minerals is critical for the energy transition and the clean energy initiatives for India.
Geological Survey of India Training Institute (GSITI) Declared Centre of Excellence
A key outcome of the meeting is that the Geological Survey of India Training Institute, GSITI, has been declared a Centre of Excellence for the Future Minerals Forum, FMF. Under this initiative, the forum shall be offering focused training programs on geologists of Saudi Arabia, Africa, and Central Asia that would help augment capacity building across the global mining sector.
Investments and Technological Collaboration in Sustainable Mining
The two nations also discussed further joint ventures for the processing of critical minerals, especially those critical for clean energy technologies. This effort is a part of India’s overall approach to becoming a global leader in sustainable mineral processing and mining. Both nations had discussions on possible collaborative efforts to adopt cutting-edge mining technologies and innovations useful for sustainable mineral exploration and extraction. These discussions are expected to facilitate knowledge transfer and enhance progress in the mining sector.
India’s Participation at Future Minerals Forum 2025
This participation is a sequel to India’s active participation at the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) 2025 in Riyadh, where Shri Reddy reiterated India’s commitment to the procurement of critical minerals for clean energy systems. At the forum, Shri Reddy also met with Brazilian, Italian, and Moroccan officials to further strengthen global partnerships for mineral security.
A Step Towards India’s National Critical Minerals Mission
The India-Saudi Arabia discussions are a major step in India’s strategic quest for international partnerships for mineral security and sustainable development. This is in line with the goals of the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM), which further strengthens India’s position in global mineral supply chains.
As India seeks its position as a major player in the critical minerals space, such partnerships will be a major factor in ensuring availability of resources for its transition to clean energy and industrial growth.
