Egypt Explores Global Mining Opportunities.. Intensive Meetings for the Minister of Petroleum in South Africa

As part of efforts to enhance international cooperation and support investments in the mining sector, Engineer Karim Badawi, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, participated in the Investing in African Mining Indaba conference and exhibition, held annually in Cape Town, South Africa.

Intensive Meetings for the Minister of Petroleum in South Africa

This event is the largest and most significant in the mining sector across the continent, bringing together top government officials and global company executives to explore investment opportunities and future challenges in the mining industry.

High-Level Meetings with Global Mining Companies

During his visit to the exhibition, Engineer Karim Badawi held intensive meetings with several global mining companies operating in Egypt, accompanied by Engineer Moataz Atef, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources for the Minister’s Office, the Technical Office, and the Ministry’s spokesperson, as well as Geologist Yars Ramadan, Chairman of the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority.

Among these meetings was a key discussion with INK Resources, a British company, where the minister met with Engineer Mostafa Talaat, Chairman of the Board, and Geologist Abdel Halim Asran to review the progress of exploration and development activities in the Wadi Dara area of the Arabian-Nubian Shield in Egypt, a region considered one of the most promising for copper and gold extraction.

During these discussions, Minister Karim Badawi emphasized the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources’ commitment to providing all necessary support to accelerate the development of high-value mining projects, which would contribute to national economic growth and job creation.

The meetings witnessed significant interest from mining ministers and CEOs of global companies attending the conference, who welcomed Egypt’s active participation, particularly in light of the country’s efforts to enhance the mining sector’s role as a key pillar of the national economy.

Egypt’s Strategy for Developing the Mining Sector

In his speech at the conference, Engineer Karim Badawi outlined the key pillars of the ministry’s strategy to develop the mining sector, aiming to achieve a transformational shift and increase its contribution to GDP from the current 1% to 5-6%.

He also highlighted the ongoing efforts to convert the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority into an independent economic entity, which would enhance its operational efficiency and boost investment returns.

The minister stressed that Egypt’s mining sector is beginning to reap the benefits of modernization, building on a series of regulatory and administrative reforms, including improvements in the business environment and the introduction of new incentives for investors.

He further noted that the Egyptian government continues to attract more mining investments as part of its Egypt Vision 2030, which seeks to position the country as a global mining investment destination.

Minister Badawi also explained that Egypt is working on an integrated value-added strategy for the mining industry, focusing on enhancing production chains and maximizing the utilization of natural resources. Additionally, he mentioned a separate strategy to address the environmental and social impacts of the mining sector, ensuring compliance with global sustainability standards.