The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is gearing up for what promises to be the most impactful edition yet of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF), with over 20,000 participants already registered — marking a record-breaking turnout in the event’s history. This milestone underscores the growing global interest in advancing dialogue around critical minerals into concrete, actionable outcomes.

According to Aldo Pennini, Director of Strategy, Program, and Content at FMF, this year’s gathering will be defined by its focus on implementation rather than rhetoric. “FMF 2026 is all about turning talk into tangible results,” Pennini explained, emphasizing that the Forum’s sessions, panel discussions, and partnership meetings are structured to lead directly to measurable industry progress.

Building on the success of previous editions, FMF 2026 serves as a strategic platform uniting governments, investors, miners, and technology innovators from across the globe — including a growing number of stakeholders from Africa’s resource-rich economies. With the continent playing a critical role in the global energy transition, African nations are positioning themselves as key partners in responsible mineral development, value addition, and sustainable trade.

This year’s program will spotlight:

• Sustainable mining practices and the role of new technologies in reducing environmental impact.
• Investment frameworks that encourage fair partnerships across the Global South.
• Critical mineral supply chains, particularly around cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements essential for clean energy technologies.
• Capacity-building collaborations between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia to maximize local value creation.

The FMF 2026 represents more than a policy platform — it’s evolving into a global execution hub. With record registration numbers and an agenda built around action, the Forum is expected to yield new cross-border investments, technological collaborations, and policy commitments that could redefine the mineral landscape across emerging economies.

As nations enhance their strategic approaches to secure and process the minerals needed for the low-carbon future, forums like FMF 2026 are becoming decisive spaces for shaping equitable, sustainable, and future-oriented mining ecosystems — with Africa emerging as a central player in that vision.

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