MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA ALI BIN IBRAHIM ALNAIMI CONFIRMED HERE TODAY THAT THE 9TH ARAB CONFERENCE ON MINERAL WEALTH SCHEDULED FOR JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA, ON 30 OCTOBER 2006 WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASING THE TIES OF COOPERATION AMONG THE MINISTRIES AND COMMISSIONS IN CHARGE OF MINERAL RESOURCES IN THE ARAB COUNTRIES. ADDRESSING THE FINAL MEETING OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE AND THE EXECUTIVE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE CONFERENCE, ALNAIMI CONVEYED TO THE MEETING THE GREETINGS OF THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ WHO WILL PATRONIZE THE CONFERENCE IN JEDDAH. HE SUGGESTED THAT THE INCREASE OF TIES WOULD BE REACHED THROUGH IDEAL EXPLOITATION OF OUR MINERAL WEALTH AND ENTERING INTO COMPLEMENTARY OPERATIONS INCLUDING THE MANUFACTURE OF PRODUCTS RELATED TO RAW MATERIALS. HE SAID THE CONFERENCE WOULD PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN THE MINERAL SECTOR IN OUR COUNTRIES, ADDING THAT THE CONFERENCE, WHICH IS AN ARAB AND INTERNATIONAL DEMONSTRATION, WOULD BE ADDRESSING THREE CATEGORIES: PERSONNEL OF GOVERNMENT BODIES RELATED TO MINING, INVESTORS IN THE SECTOR OF MINING AND EXPERTS AND ACADEMICIANS. ALNAIMI UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF MINING INDUSTRY AS AMONG THE ANCIENT INDUSTRIES OF THE WORLD AND STILL HAVING MOMENTUM AS ONE OF LIFE ESSENTIALS. HE SAID A MAP OF MINERALS IN THE ARAB WORLD WAS DRAWN TO POINT TO THE VENUE OF A NUMBER OF MINERALS VIABLE TO BEING EXPLOITED. HE SAID THE CONFERENCE WOULD BE HELD AMID CRITICAL ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE WORLD, CITING SPIRALING HIKES OF MINERALS PRICES, INCREASING DEMAND FOR MINERALS AND ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL CHANGES IN ASIA THAT WOULD AFFECT THE CONTINUATION OF INCREASING DEMAND ON MINERALS. ON THE SIDELINES OF THE CONFERENCE, THE FIRST CONSULTATIVE MEETING FOR ARAB MINISTERS IN CHARGE OF MINERAL WEALTH WILL BE HELD, HE CONCLUDED.
