Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Concludes Official Visit to US

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef has concluded an official visit to the United States focused on strengthening bilateral economic and industrial ties, during which high-level government and private sector discussions concentrated on advancing strategic partnerships in line with Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Strategy, Comprehensive Strategy for Mining and Metals Industries, and Vision 2030 objectives.

 During the visit, Minister Alkhorayef held meetings with senior US government officials, including US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley. The discussions emphasized collaboration in key areas such as energy innovation, mining sector development, and supply chain resilience, while also exploring opportunities to enhance trade relations and facilitate the entry of Saudi non-oil exports into US markets.

 The minister also engaged with leaders of major American companies across various sectors, including General Mills (food processing), Lilac Solutions (lithium extraction technology), RTX (aerospace and defense), International Flavors & Fragrances (specialty chemicals), Guardian Industries (advanced materials), Abbott (medical devices), Skytower Global Investments (strategic development), MP Materials (critical minerals), and Albemarle (lithium extraction and processing). These meetings focused on joint investment opportunities, mining collaboration, technology transfer, and the localization of advanced industries in the Kingdom.

 As part of the visit, he toured key innovation hubs such as the renowned Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, Honeywell’s headquarters and its experience center, and Albemarle’s Kings Mountain Lithium Mine. These tours provided insights into state-of-the-art technologies and best practices in lithium extraction, advanced manufacturing, and industrial automation.

 The visit also included a Saudi-US business roundtable, bringing together industry leaders to discuss collaboration in priority sectors such as renewables, mining, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. Additionally, the minister met with Saudi students studying at North Carolina State University and Duke University, encouraging them to contribute to the Kingdom’s economic transformation upon their return.

 This visit reaffirms the ministry’s commitment to building global partnerships, attracting high-quality investments, and diversifying the Saudi economy in alignment with Vision 2030. The outcomes of these engagements are expected to drive sustainable economic growth, enhance knowledge transfer, and create new opportunities for bilateral trade and investment.