RIYADH: The Australian-Saudi Business Council hosted a joint forum on Thursday to discuss the enhancement of collaboration and trade between the two countries.

Led by Daniel Jamsheedi, the council’s country director, the event brought together more than 35 participants from both nations to discuss key opportunities for trade and investment.

The event, a collaboration with the Federation of Saudi Chambers, aimed to build on the success of the first Australian Pavilion at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh this week, and further strengthen the economic partnership between the two countries, organizers said.

Sam Jamsheedi, the president of the council, thanked the federation for the vital role it played in the success of the forum.

“The Federation of Saudi Chambers is one of our key stakeholders and our partner within the Kingdom,” he said.

“As a business council, we appreciate the efforts put in to enable this joint business forum to succeed.”

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabian Mining Co. has awarded three contracts worth SR3.45 billion ($921.58 million) for its third phosphate fertilizer plant, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position in the global market.

In a filing with the Tadawul stock exchange, the national mining firm, also known as Ma’aden, named the contractors as China National Chemical Engineering Co., Sinopec Nanjing Engineering and Construction, and Turkiye-based Tekfen Construction and Installation Co.

First announced in 2016, the project is designed to add 3 million metric tonnes annually to Saudi Arabia’s phosphate production capacity. Estimated to cost SR24 billion, the facility is being developed in phases and was initially projected to reach full capacity by 2024, the company said at that time.

The contracts align with Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to diversify its economy and expand its industrial base. As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom is capitalizing on its vast reserves of phosphate, gold, copper, and bauxite to reduce its reliance on oil.

Valued at approximately $2.5 trillion, the Saudi mining sector is regarded as the fastest-growing globally and is positioned as the third pillar of its industrial economy.

The three contracts awarded include an SR1.22 billion agreement for general construction at Ras Al-Khair with China National Chemical Engineering. A second contract, worth SR1.36 billion, was awarded to Sinopec’s subsidiary for construction at Wa’ad Al-Shamal. Tekfen Construction secured the third contract at SR877 million, with work at Wa’ad Al-Shamal included.

The development aligns with Ma’aden’s 2016 announcement of a feasibility study for a world-class phosphate fertilizer production complex in Wa’ad Al-Shamal Minerals Industrial City, situated in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Province.

Ma’aden announced significant discoveries of gold and copper in the Arabian Shield region during the Future Minerals Forum 2025 in Riyadh, further advancing its mining ambitions.

The discoveries include extensive gold deposits at Wadi Al-Jaww and copper reserves at Jabal Shayban. Mineralization at these sites extends from shallow depths of 20 meters to depths of up to 200 meters, highlighting their potential for large-scale extraction, the company added.

Ma’aden also unveiled promising developments at its Mansourah-Massarah gold mine, where drilling has revealed high-grade gold mineralization beyond the current pit design. 

The financial impact of these discoveries is yet to be determined, Ma’aden said in a statement to the stock exchange.