RIYADH, 8 January 2023 - Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) met Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, and discussed opportunities for further cooperation during his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in January. Müller expressed his appreciation of the efforts of the Kingdom to achieve its Vision 2030 and commended the National Industrial Strategy launched by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in October 2022.

Director General Müller also met with Prince Sultan Al Saud, CEO of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, which was set up to promote industrial investment opportunities, strengthen local industry, and enhance its performance. Müller said, “UNIDO will enhance its cooperation with Saudi Arabia to support the country’s efforts and vision in areas such as agro-industry, responsible mining, energy, decarbonization, digitalization and quality standards”.

Other discussions included a meeting with Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy, to discuss cooperation opportunities under the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative. Müller also met with Sultan Bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development and Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid And Relief Centre to discuss cooperation beyond Saudi Arabia.

The Director General also spoke in the Ministerial Round Table of the Future Minerals Forum 2023 convened by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to advance the mining goals of countries across the Middle East, Central Asia and North and East Africa. The 2023 edition of the Forum aims to connect global policymakers with investors and business leaders across the mining value chain and its supporting industries.

Müller said, “Mining is absolutely fundamental to worldwide industry and especially to a green energy transition. Without the metals from mines, there would be no auto industry, no solar panels, no windmills. Producing low-carbon technologies means even greater future demand. But right now, extracting and processing minerals make up 10% of greenhouse gas emissions. Mining practices can lead to deforestation, the contamination of water and land."

"The working conditions in far too many mines around the world are sheer exploitation – especially in artisanal and small-scale mining. We must understand: mining is a global business with global effects on our planet, with a global responsibility. What the world needs is responsible mining! We need standards in workplace safety, minimum wages, and ecological standards. It is time for local value addition, environmental, social and governance norms, and a global alliance for responsible mining.“

Several site visits during the mission ncluded a visit to Riyadh Second Industrial City, managed by the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON), and to the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu.