The Second International exhibition and forum on mineral exploration and applications (MENA-EX 2009), concluded its activities here yesterday. As many as 80 local and international companies working in the field of exploration and development of mineral resources participated in the Expo. It was hosted under the auspices of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, represented by the Agency of mineral Resources; the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS); the Saudi Arabian Mining Company MA'ADEN; Austrade; the Saudi Ministry of Transport; the Saudi Ports Authority; the Saudi Railways Organization, and British CWC at Hilton Hotel in Jeddah. The Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Talaat Idriss has estimated the number of visitors, investors, businessmen and experts amounted to 5000. He said the exhibition led to the signing of a number of bilateral agreements in principle between local and international companies to discuss investment opportunities in this sector including the establishment of Saudi-South African mining consultancy company based in Jeddah to provide services to investors in the field of mineral exploration and mining industry in addition to the appointment of Dr. Maher Idris, former Deputy Chief of the Saudi Geological Survey as a company director. Idris said that the exhibition resulted in the expected launching of Saudi Foreign holding mining company to support the operations and exploration of mineral mines to be announced soon, adding that the date for the 3rd MENA - EX will be on January 19-20, 2010, once again to be hosted by Jeddah.
